Israel says it will strike Hezbollah even if there is a cease-fire with Hamas
The Israeli military issued a strong warning to Hezbollah and Iran on Saturday as the conflict in Gaza approached the end of its fourth month.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari conveyed a message to Hezbollah, stating that Israel is prepared to launch an immediate attack if provoked but emphasized that they do not desire an all-out war.
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“We do not prioritize war as our initial option, but we are unquestionably prepared,” stated Hagari. “We will persist in taking action wherever Hezbollah is located, and we will act as necessary across the Middle East. The same principles apply to Lebanon, Syria, and other more remote locations.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a similar warning over the weekend, stating that even if Israel were to agree to a cease-fire with Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would not hesitate to strike Hezbollah if deemed necessary.
Israel will reach the four-month mark since the commencement of its retaliatory campaign against Hamas later this week. Israeli officials have consistently cautioned that they anticipate the conflict to persist for “many more months.”
An Israeli intelligence official informed reporters last week that Israel is still far from achieving its stated objectives, which include capturing Hamas’ leaders and ammunition reserves, as well as incapacitating Hamas military bases and tunnels.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remains at large, with indications suggesting he is located somewhere within the network of tunnels beneath Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza.
Israel’s recent warning comes at a time of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Iran-backed terrorist groups have been causing turmoil in the Middle East since the October 7th massacre by Hamas in Israel. These groups have even been responsible for killing three U.S. soldiers last week.
The Biden administration has committed to a response, and Iran has similarly pledged to “decisively” react to any U.S. attacks. U.S. Central Command announced on Friday that airstrikes targeted over 85 locations in Iraq and Syria, specifically against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.