Report: Netanyahu tells Trump he's 'interested in' escalating against Hezbollah
If the Iran ceasefire collapses, Israel is eyeing the possibility of escalating strikes on Hezbollah across Lebanon, an Israeli source told CNN on Tuesday.
Washington is still pushing for diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon, but the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon appears to be on the verge of collapse. U.S. President Donald Trump extended the truce to the end of next week, but Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a daily basis.
Israel has carried out multiple waves of daily strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has continued launching drone and rocket attacks at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Nearly 400 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire went into effect, the country’s health ministry said.
According to the source, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed Trump that Israel is "interested in resuming high-intensity fighting against Hezbollah."
An Israeli security source said the Israeli army is pushing to lift the U.S.-imposed restrictions so it can resume strikes against Hezbollah north of the Litani River that separates southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.
Shortly after the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire went into effect in mid-April, Trump barred Israel from bombing Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. On April 17, Trump said on social media: “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A.”
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