Hezbollah lebanon

The initial objective of pushing Hezbollah forces away from the border is increasingly giving way to discussions of a prolonged military presence.

Abu Ubaida, a Hamas spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, addressed his message to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, whom he referred to as "the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon."

The terrorists, the military claimed, systematically used ambulances to transfer weapons across the country, in order to launch attacks against Israel and IDF soldiers.

"The ambassador will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah," AFP reported, citing an anonymous source.

A source told the independent Lebanon-based Murr Television station that no soldiers had taken refuge in the church, but that it had been the reason given for attacking the Christian institute.

France’s role in Lebanon could determine whether Hezbollah is contained or strengthened.

The current campaign in southern Lebanon is designed to neutralize the most immediate threats – cross-border infiltration and anti-tank missile fire – while containing long-range Hezbollah fire.

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," a river that meets the Mediterranean.

The decision comes after a week of meetings between Lebanese officials and other leaders from the region, many of whom have been on the receiving end of Iranian attacks.

Jonathan Alkhouri described the increase in public criticism of the terror group as a phenomenon he calls “cracks in the fear mechanism.”