Controversial Israeli minister Ben-Gvir calls for war with Hezbollah
Israel’s far-right police and security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called for war with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
“All Hezbollah strongholds must be burned down and destroyed. War!” Ben-Gvir demanded in a video published on X.
It is unacceptable for parts of Israel to be attacked and people evacuated while peace prevails in Lebanon, he said during a visit to Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. The town has been particularly affected by shelling from southern Lebanon.
Ben-Gvir lamented that Hezbollah is burning large areas of Israel, a reference to several fires in the north of the country caused by rocket fire from Lebanon in recent days. He said he published the video after assessing the situation with the fire service and police in the region.
‘We are ready for war’: Hezbollah
Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Lebanese group’s deputy chief, says Hezbollah had decided not to expand the scope of its operations but is ready to do so if forced.
In comments made to Al Jazeera, Qassem said it “is ready for the battle and will not allow Israel to secure any victories”. “Any Israeli expansion of the war on Lebanon will be met with devastation, destruction and displacement in Israel,” he added.
“If Israel wants to fight an all-out war, we are ready for it.”
Hezbollah confirms fighter killed by Israeli air strike
Hezbollah named its member as Haider Hassan Maslamani, a resident of the southern Lebanon city of Naqoura. It said he died “on the road to Jerusalem” – a term used by the armed group to refer to those killed in Israeli attacks.
Earlier, Israel said it killed a Hezbollah fighter in an air strike on Naquora, without naming the person.
At least 329 Hezbollah members have been killed in Israeli attacks since the Gaza war began in October, mostly in Lebanon, according to the group. Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily fire across the border during this time.
