Netanyahu Vows to Escalate Lebanon Attacks Amid Civilian Casualties

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to escalate military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. His strong statement comes as civilian casualties rise and international diplomatic efforts continue to de-escalate the conflict.

In a video statement reported by Al Jazeera on Tuesday (26 May), Netanyahu stated that Israel would not halt its strikes despite mounting international pressure.

“We will not ease the pressure; in fact, I say we must increase it further,” he declared.

Netanyahu’s instructions coincided with intensified Israeli air strikes targeting various regions in Lebanon. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that alone on Sunday, over 30 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon were hit by bombs.

The attacks have caused severe damage to civilian infrastructure. Lebanon’s Civil Defence reported that regional facilities in Nabatieh were severely damaged, with some completely destroyed. In addition to material losses, civilian casualties, including women and children, continue to rise daily.

Netanyahu’s hardline stance poses a significant challenge to the United States, which is trying to broker a ceasefire. Israeli and Lebanese representatives reportedly met in Washington to discuss a potential end to the conflict, though Hezbollah was not directly involved in the talks.

The recent tensions were triggered by a Hezbollah attack on Israel on 2 March. The group claimed the assault was retaliation for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an operation they described as a collaboration between Washington and Tel Aviv.

The current situation marks the collapse of hopes that emerged in November 2024, when both sides reached a ceasefire agreement after two years of conflict. The deal, which was supposed to include troop withdrawals and disarmament, is now a distant memory after Lebanon accused Israel of repeatedly violating commitments by attacking civilian targets. (Z-1)