Israel Expands Attacks On Lebanon, President Herzog: We Don't Want War, But Have The Right To Defend The People

Israeli President Isaac Herzog. (Wikimedia Commons/Spokesperson unit of the President of Israel/Kobi Gideon)

JAKARTA - Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country did not want war, as its country's military expanded attacks on Lebanon.

President Herzog said Israel did not want war with Hezbollah, but defended its citizens from attacks by militant groups based in southern Lebanon.

"I repeat and reiterate: Israel does not want war. However, we have the right and obligation to defend our people," said President Herzog, quoted from The Times of Israel, September 23.

"Hezbollah keeps and launches missiles in civilian areas and homes. Thousands of long-range rockets are stored in homes, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, then launched with the sole goal of killing our people," said President Herzog.

"Will you accept this in your home or your neighbor's?" asked President Herzog. "Which country will accept its citizens living under such a threat from their neighbors?" he said.

Israel launched its widest wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday, warning Lebanese citizens to flee the area where the militant group was keeping weapons.

"We are deepening our attack on Lebanon, the move will continue until we reach our goal of returning the northern population safely to their homes," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video published by his office on Monday.

"These are the days where the Israeli people must show calm," he continued.

He spoke after the Israeli military targeted Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon, the east Bekaa valley, and the northern region near Syria.

The latest attack comes amid several of the toughest cross-border shootouts in nearly a year of raging conflict with the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Earlier, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said airstrikes against homes in Lebanon, where "Hezbollah is hiding weapons" is imminent.

Later, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the Israeli Air Force had been attacking more than 300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the morning.