Netanyahu Orders Attacks on Southern Beirut Suburbs

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that they have issued orders for the military to launch attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

This announcement comes after media reports revealed that Israel requested permission from the United States to expand its military operations in Lebanon, including the possibility of airstrikes in the Beirut area, amid ongoing confrontations with Hezbollah.

According to the Israeli news site "Walla", Israel is awaiting a response from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to the request recently submitted to Washington, amidst indications of "American openness toward approving it."

The Israeli stance, according to the report, is based on "assessments indicating that the leadership and military infrastructure of Hezbollah is not limited to southern Lebanon," and that restricting military operations to border areas "is no longer sufficient to achieve Israeli security objectives."

In the same context, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun considered that his country is facing a "fierce Israeli aggression," pledging to "work to end the suffering of Lebanese people in general and southerners in particular and to put an end to their tribulations."

The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency session on Lebanon on Monday, following Israel's announcement of its control over a strategic highland in the south of the country and the expansion of its operations against Hezbollah.

On Sunday, Israel announced its control over the Shuqif Castle, which overlooks vast areas of southern Lebanon and holds symbolic significance as it served as a base for Israeli forces during two decades of its occupation of southern Lebanon until 2000.

Videos showed the Israeli flag raised above the castle while smoke rose in its vicinity.

Netanyahu considered that "control over Shuqif Castle is a decisive turning point," adding: "My directives now are to deepen our control and expand it over areas that were under Hezbollah's control."