JERUSALEM: Israeli PM Netanyahu said on Sunday that the “intense phase” of fighting against Hamas in Gaza is winding down, setting the stage for Israel to send more troops to its northern border to confront Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The comments threatened to further heighten the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah at a time when they appear to be moving closer to war.Netanyahu also signalled that there is no end in sight for the grinding war in Gaza. The current phase of the war “is about to end,” Netanyahu said. “That doesn’t mean the war is about to end.”
Netanyahu said in a lengthy interview that while the army is close to completing its ground offensive in Rafah, that would not mean the war against Hamas is over. But he said fewer troops would be needed in Gaza, freeing up forces to battle Hezbollah.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ Oct 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire nearly every day since then, but the fighting has escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-blown war.
Netanyahu said he hoped a diplomatic solution to the crisis could be found but vowed to solve the problem “in a different way” if needed. “We can fight on several fronts and we are prepared to do that.”
Hezbollah warned Israel last week against launching war on Lebanon’s front, saying it has new weapons and intelligence capabilities that could help it target critical positions deeper inside Israel.
Hezbollah already has unveiled new weapons during the low-level fighting, including hard-to-defend attack drones that strike with little warning. An Israeli soldier was badly wounded Sunday in a drone strike.
The comments threatened to further heighten the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah at a time when they appear to be moving closer to war.Netanyahu also signalled that there is no end in sight for the grinding war in Gaza. The current phase of the war “is about to end,” Netanyahu said. “That doesn’t mean the war is about to end.”
Netanyahu said in a lengthy interview that while the army is close to completing its ground offensive in Rafah, that would not mean the war against Hamas is over. But he said fewer troops would be needed in Gaza, freeing up forces to battle Hezbollah.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ Oct 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire nearly every day since then, but the fighting has escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-blown war.
Netanyahu said he hoped a diplomatic solution to the crisis could be found but vowed to solve the problem “in a different way” if needed. “We can fight on several fronts and we are prepared to do that.”
Hezbollah warned Israel last week against launching war on Lebanon’s front, saying it has new weapons and intelligence capabilities that could help it target critical positions deeper inside Israel.
Hezbollah already has unveiled new weapons during the low-level fighting, including hard-to-defend attack drones that strike with little warning. An Israeli soldier was badly wounded Sunday in a drone strike.
