Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended recent military strikes in Lebanon on Thursday, vowing that his government will continue targeting Hezbollah with "force and precision."
The Prime Minister's comments follow a massive wave of bombings across Lebanese territory that killed more than 200 people and injured approximately 1,000 others in a single day.
Israeli military intelligence confirmed the death of Ali Yusef Jarshi during the recent strikes. Jarshi served as the personal secretary to Hezbollah leader Naim Qasem.
Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces targeted several suspected Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon during the night. He identified these locations as depots for munitions, weapons, and rocket launching systems.
Targeting Hezbollah infrastructure
The Israeli government maintains that these strikes are necessary to dismantle the group's ability to launch attacks. "Our message is clear: whoever acts against the citizens of Israel will be reached," Netanyahu said.
He added that military operations will continue "until complete security is restored to the residents of the north."
The escalation follows a breakdown in diplomatic expectations regarding a recent ceasefire proposal. While Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously announced a ceasefire that he claimed included Lebanon, Israel subsequently rejected the inclusion of Lebanese territory in the agreement.
This latest surge in violence has brought the total death toll in the current offensive to over 1,500 people. The intensified bombardment follows a period of heightened tension along the northern Israeli border.
