Netanyahu Warns of Military Action Against Hezbollah if Diplomacy Fails

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel may be forced to take military action against Hezbollah if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the ongoing conflict along its northern border with Lebanon. In a meeting with US special envoy Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu stressed that while Israel values American support, it will prioritize its security and ensure the safe return of Israeli residents evacuated from the region.

Over 60,000 Israelis have been displaced since Hezbollah began launching rockets from Lebanon on October 8, just one day after Hamas’s brutal attack on southern Israel. Israel has insisted that Hezbollah must comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the group to withdraw to the Litani River, before civilians can return home.

Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of military action, but Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was more explicit in advocating for a broader offensive. Gallant argued that diplomacy’s window is closing and warned that the only way to restore peace in the north may be through military force, including a full-scale operation to push Hezbollah back. “The only way left to return the residents of the North to their homes is via military action,” Gallant told Hochstein.

While the Biden administration remains committed to a diplomatic solution, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that America’s preferred approach is to de-escalate the situation through dialogue. However, with Hezbollah’s continued aggression and its close ties to Hamas, Israel’s patience is wearing thin. The Israeli security cabinet is set to meet to determine the next steps, with military action against Hezbollah a growing possibility.

France has also weighed in, with Ambassador Frederic Journes stating that a diplomatic resolution in northern Israel is unlikely without a ceasefire in Gaza. He warned that the lack of progress on Gaza complicates efforts to negotiate with Hezbollah, which sees itself as part of the “Axis of Resistance” alongside Hamas.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, the risk of a wider war looms large. Although neither Israel, Hezbollah, nor Iran seeks further escalation, the volatile situation on the northern border makes a broader conflict a very real possibility.

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