On the 40th anniversary of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that, if required, the Israeli army will “march once again to Beirut, Sidon, and Tyre”.
At the same time, Gantz claimed that his government intends on staying peaceful and “does not want war”.
While at a rally in Kiryat Shmona on Wednesday, Gatz asserted that Israel is ready to carry out “powerful and accurate” operations in Lebanon if needed; operations that will inflict heavy damage on the “Iranian Hezbollah and Lebanese shipments,” he indicated.
According to him, Israel does not want war and is “willing to go very far on the path to peace and settlement.” He gave the example of the negotiations taking place regarding the maritime borders between Israel and Lebanon that must “conclude quickly and fairly”.
“For the dying Lebanese economy, it will be a breath of fresh air, and I hope it will also be a significant step in strengthening stability in the region,” Gantz went on to say.
He stressed that Israel’s target is not the citizens of Lebanon as Israel has “reached out” multiple times to “help” them.
“There are paths to walk on, the other side should have the courage to start walking,” Gantz implied.
Last week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned Israeli activity in disputed waters, referring to the Karish gas field, as “aggressive action.’ He stated that acts of aggression and provocation could result from any movement in the disputed area.
Another warning came from the secretary-general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, who claims that Hezbollah has the power to prevent any enemy-attempted extraction from the Karish gas field.
With the recent escalations and the increasing threats from both sides, Lebanon stands again in a state of instability.
