Israel: If The Armistice Fails, The Military Will No Longer Distinguish Lebanon And Hezbollah

Impact of Israeli attacks in Lebanon/DOK UNICEF

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Katz said if the ceasefire with Hezbollah fails, the military would no longer differentiate between Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Katz, during his visit to the northern border, urged the Lebanese government to authorize the Lebanese soldiers to enforce their role, keep Hezbollah away from Litani and dismantle all infrastructure.

"If the ceasefire fails, there will be no more exceptions for the Lebanese state. We will enforce the agreement with maximum impact and zero tolerance. If until now we differentiate between Lebanon and Hezbollah, it will no longer be something important," he said.

It was reported that nine people were killed and three others injured in Israeli attacks on two cities in southern Lebanon, Talousa and Haris, when the Israeli military said it was attacking dozens of Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities reported two additional deaths in an Israeli attack on another part of southern Lebanon, including a state security member killed while on duty, bringing the death toll on Monday, December 2, to 11.

Israel's latest attack came shortly after Hezbollah accused Israel of violating a ceasefire agreement and firing missiles at Israeli military positions in the disputed Shebaa Livestock area.

Residents in Beirut also told Reuters they heard drones flying at low altitudes at night.

This shootout put the US-brokered ceasefire between the two in an increasingly fragile position less than a week after the ceasefire was imposed.

The ceasefire prohibits Israel from carrying out offensive military operations in Lebanon, while requiring Lebanon to prevent armed groups, including Hezbollah, from launching attacks on Israel.

The Israeli military reported no casualties in the two Hezbollah missile launches, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to provide a "strong" response.

Hezbollah said its rocket attacks, the group's first operations announced since the ceasefire took effect on Wednesday last week, were retaliation for Israel's repeated violations of the ceasefire.