Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid warned on Tuesday that Hezbollah was putting Lebanon and its citizens in danger with its attacks on Israel.
Speaking during a tour of the Israeli military’s Northern Command and northern borders together with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Lapid said Hezbollah’s aggression was “unacceptable.”
"[It] is liable to lead the entire region into an unnecessary escalation, just when there is a genuine opportunity for Lebanon to develop its energy resources,” he said, according to a statement released by his office.
A stable, prosperous Lebanon that is “neither a platform for Hezbollah terrorism nor an Iranian tool” is in Israel’s interest, said Lapid.
Gantz emphasized that Israel is willing to do much to enhance its neighbors’ prosperity, but at the same time remains prepared to act in its own defense.
“Lebanon and its leaders know very well that if they choose the path of confrontation they will be hurt ... If they choose the path of stability, they will be helping the Lebanese people,” he said, according to the statement.
Lapid and Gantz were accompanied on the tour by National Security Council Director Dr. Eyal Hulata, Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj.-Gen. Herzl Halevy, and other high-ranking security officials.
Lapid stressed that the IDF is taking action—and will continue to do so—against all of Tehran’s terrorist proxies in the region and beyond.
“Iran is the largest exporter of terrorism in the world. We will act on our own and in tandem with other countries in the region to prevent Iran from undermining regional stability,” he said.
On Monday, the IDF intercepted a drone “likely” belonging to Hezbollah that penetrated Israeli airspace from Lebanon.
