Katz Warns Aoun: Stop Hezbollah or We Will Take the Land Ourselves

SadaNews - Israeli Occupation Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that Israel may "retake control of the land itself" if the Lebanese government fails to prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks against Israel.

Katz's comments came during a meeting he held with senior Israeli army officers, following an escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Katz stated that "Hezbollah launched heavy shelling towards Israel on Wednesday," noting that the Israeli army "responded strongly by targeting sites in the southern suburbs and Hezbollah positions in various areas of Lebanon."

He added: "I warned the Lebanese president that if the Lebanese government cannot exert control over its territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern settlements and firing towards Israel, we will have to regain control of those lands ourselves."

Katz pointed out that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli army to prepare to expand military operations in Lebanon.

He explained that the aim of these instructions is to "restore calm and security to the northern settlements."