Israel Urges Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah

On November 2 (local time), Israel warned that it would intensify its attacks on Lebanon if the pro-Iranian armed group Hezbollah is not disarmed.

As the funeral procession for five Hezbollah fighters who recently died in an Israeli airstrike takes place, mourners are deeply grieving. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to AFP and Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a cabinet meeting that Hezbollah is attempting to rearm, adding, "If Lebanon fails to disarm Hezbollah, we will exercise our right to self-defense under the terms of the ceasefire."

He further emphasized, "We will not allow Lebanon to become a new front," and added, "We will act as necessary."

Earlier, Israel announced that it had killed four members of Hezbollah. Triggered by the Gaza war, Israel and Hezbollah, the armed group based in Lebanon, were engaged in conflict for over a year before reaching a ceasefire in November last year through U.S. mediation.

However, Israel has continued to maintain a military presence in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah's stronghold is located, and has carried out intermittent attacks. Under the ceasefire agreement, Lebanon agreed that only national security forces could possess weapons, which means Hezbollah must be disarmed. The United States has also pressured Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah since the ceasefire.