Israeli ministers have escalated their rhetoric against Lebanon, calling for the bombing of Beirut, the detention of Lebanese women and the occupation of territory in retaliation for Hezbollah drone strikes.“We must think outside the box regarding Hezbollah, and we should also consider occupying territory and killing many terrorists,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said during a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet on Monday evening, the Anadolu Agency reported, citing the Maariv newspaper.Ben-Gvir also called for “arresting their women and children”, saying, “This is what hurts them most.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Hezbollah of seeking to drag Israel into “a war of attrition”.The Israeli military has carried out deadly airstrikes on Lebanon since a Hezbollah cross-border attack on March 2, killing more than 3,600 people, injuring over 11,100 and displacing more than one million others.The ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon triggered a day of tit-for-tat exchanges between Iran and Israel on Monday. While Tehran vowed a “crushing” response if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued, Tel Aviv said it would press ahead with its offensive.

“Israel needs a lot of weapons,” Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, told the meeting. Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock also called for the occupation of territory in Lebanon.Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar called for intensified airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. “I believe the Iranians understand that entering a direct confrontation with Israel is not wise,” Zohar told Israel’s local 103 FM radio.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)