Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday (February 25) pledged to intensify attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, even if a cease-fire is achieved with Hamas in Gaza. The statement comes despite Hezbollah’s offer to cease its nearly daily attacks on Israel in the event of a Gaza cease-fire.
Gallant emphasised that any temporary truce in Gaza won’t apply to the northern front. The objective, according to Gallant, is to push Hezbollah away from the Israeli border, either diplomatically or by force.
“We will continue the fire, and we will do so independently from the south, until we achieve our goals,” Gallant said.
Israel-Lebanon border conflict
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians along the Israel-Lebanon border due to Hezbollah rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes.
Gallant mentioned that targeting Hezbollah commanders has significantly weakened the group’s ability to attack Israel. The recent airstrikes on trucks near the Lebanon-Syria border resulted in casualties, with Hezbollah members reportedly killed.
Hezbollah withdrawal 10 kms from Israel-Lebanon border
Diplomats from the United States and European countries have proposed various plans to ease the border conflict, focusing on a Hezbollah withdrawal, a strengthened Lebanese army presence, and negotiations over disputed border points.
The most recent proposal suggests a Hezbollah withdrawal of 10 kilometers from the border. However, both Lebanon and Hezbollah have indicated that there will be no agreement on the border until a cease-fire is achieved in Gaza.