Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to his nation on the first day of a ten-day truce with Lebanon: the war against Hezbollah is far from over.
Netanyahu confirmed that Israel would - at Washington's request - give diplomacy a chance © Mena Today
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to his nation on the first day of a ten-day truce with Lebanon: the war against Hezbollah is far from over.
In a video address, Netanyahu acknowledged that the Iran-backed militant group, which resumed hostilities on March 2, had been significantly weakened, but refused to declare victory.
"Hezbollah today is a shadow of itself... but I say it honestly: we have not yet finished the job," he said, adding that the goal of dismantling Hezbollah would "not be achieved tomorrow."
The Israeli leader outlined two threats that the military campaign had successfully pushed back: a "near threat" of terrorist infiltration and anti-tank missile fire on Israeli communities, and a "distant threat" of rockets and missiles aimed at Israeli cities.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel would - at Washington's request - give diplomacy a chance, pursuing what he described as a "combined diplomatic and military solution" with the Lebanese government.
Gulf hostilities flared again on Wednesday, with an Iranian missile attack damaging Kuwait's airport and the U.S. military carrying out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran showed little progress.
Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met Tuesday at the State Department for a fourth round of direct talks, even as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued unabated on the ground.
Benjamin Netanyahu is under criticism at home after U.S. President Donald Trump declared Israel would halt plans to attack Iran ally Hezbollah in Beirut, highlighting pressure the Israeli leader faces ahead of an election polls show him losing.
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