Katz: Any Attack on Northern Settlements Will Be Met with Bombing of Southern Beirut

SadaNews - Israeli Security Minister, Israel Katz, threatened today, Monday, to target the southern suburbs of Beirut if northern Israeli settlements come under attack from Lebanon. He rejected what he called "Iranian threats" aimed at linking the fronts of Lebanon and Iran, following the recent escalation that included an exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran.

Katz made the statements in a press release, stating that "the fate of the suburbs in Beirut is the same as the fate of the northern towns," adding that "any attack on the northern settlements will lead to an attack in the suburbs," marking a new Israeli threat to expand attacks on Lebanon.

Katz claimed that the Israeli army "will continue operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah," stressing that Israel "categorically rejects Iranian threats," adding that "any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with a significant response, as happened yesterday."

These statements come amidst an Israeli discussion regarding the equation that Tel Aviv wants to impose on the Lebanese arena, following the recent round with Iran, which began after two rockets were launched from Lebanon towards the town of Ramot Naftali near the border with Lebanon, followed by an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, then an Iranian missile attack on Israel, which was followed by mutual strikes between the two parties.

Thus, Katz reiterated the equation that targets the southern suburbs whenever Israeli border towns come under attack from Lebanon, although Israeli military analysts pointed out that Israel still imposes limitations on itself. Targeting its forces in southern Lebanon does not necessarily mean conducting an airstrike on Beirut.

This means that gunfire or missiles not crossing from Lebanese territory, even if it triggers alert sirens in Israeli border sites, are not treated by Israel as sufficient reason to strike the suburbs, implying that Israel may overlook some gunfire from Lebanon or respond within limits that do not reach Beirut.

Some see that Katz is sending a dual message to the residents of the north and the soldiers of the Israeli army, indicating that Israel will continue to operate against Hezbollah, but at the same time remains "constrained," and may contain some attacks or field events that do not align with the equation it officially announces.

Regarding the Iranian track, Tel Aviv has not yet issued an official announcement to halt attacks on Iran; however, the political level has instructed the Israeli army to cease attacks on Iran while maintaining the freedom of military action in southern Lebanon.

The questions being raised in the Israeli discussion center around whether Iran will proceed with attempts to establish a new equation linking Israeli attacks in Lebanon with an Iranian direct response to Israel, and whether Tel Aviv will treat any missile launch from Lebanon towards the north as sufficient reason to target the southern suburbs.

Israel, through its continued attacks in southern Lebanon, is trying to convey that it does not accept the Iranian equation which considers any Israeli attack in Lebanon necessitates an Iranian response to Israel, yet ambiguity remains regarding its stance on another equation that Tehran is attempting to establish, linking targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut with a direct Iranian response.

It remains unclear whether the recent round of escalation has indeed ended, or if it has entered a phase of temporary calm under U.S. pressure, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump's intervention and his call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

This raises questions about whether Iran will attack Israel in response to the continued strikes in southern Lebanon, and whether Trump is capable of imposing a ceasefire on both sides despite the ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Another question emerging in the Israeli discussion is whether Israel will remain constrained in its attacks on Lebanon, and whether Israel will adhere to the equation announced by Katz, which is based on striking the suburbs in response to any gunfire towards the northern towns, or whether the fear that every similar event may lead to a new round with Iran will push it to contain limited attacks from Lebanon.