The Israel Defense Forces chief on Sunday vowed to continue striking Hezbollah until it 'understood' that there was no stopping displaced Israelis from returning to their homes in the north, Times of Israel reported.
“We will safely return the residents to their homes, and if Hezbollah has not understood this yet, it will get another blow and another blow — until the organization understands,” he said in a video statement.
IDF chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi made this declaration on Sunday, following an intense week of Israeli military action against the Lebanon-based group.
Halevi, speaking from the Israeli Air Force’s Tel Hanof base, emphasised Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of northern residents, who have been displaced for nearly a year due to Hezbollah’s attacks. His comments came after a significant Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed top Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and other senior terror leaders.
Aqil, Halevi noted, had spent years planning attacks on Israel, including operations aimed at occupying the Galilee.
“Aqil’s assassination will shake Hezbollah,” Halevi said, adding that Israel’s message to Hezbollah is clear: "We will keep hitting until they understand that the displaced Israelis will return to their homes."
Defense minister Yoav Gallant echoed this determination, describing the past week as the worst Hezbollah has ever faced. During an operational meeting with senior IDF officers, Gallant stressed that Israel would use all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of northern residents.
In recent days, Israel has escalated its offensive, with airstrikes targeting hundreds of Hezbollah sites in Lebanon. Halevi warned that Israel’s capabilities have not yet been fully utilised, stating, “The price Hezbollah is paying has increased, and our attacks will only intensify.”
The security situation has grown increasingly tense, with Hezbollah firing 85 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday alone, including targeting key sites such as a Rafael defence facility near Haifa and the Ramat David Airbase.
Some 1.5 million Israelis are currently in Hezbollah’s line of fire, according to Israeli assessments. Despite this, the group has refrained from using its more advanced precision missiles, likely to avoid provoking a full-scale war.
Gallant lauded the Beirut operation that killed Aqil, calling it a "significant and powerful" action. He underscored that the IDF's goal is to safely return displaced Israelis to their homes. "We will take every necessary step to achieve that," he vowed.
The ongoing hostilities have claimed the lives of 26 civilians and 22 IDF soldiers in Israel, with Hezbollah reporting 504 of its fighters killed during the conflict. The security cabinet is set to meet on Monday to discuss the growing threat and further military strategies, as the IDF readies itself for potential escalations.
Meanwhile, schools across northern Israel remain closed due to the security situation, with classes held remotely. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , are considering ramping up military pressure, though efforts are being made to avoid sparking an all-out war. US President Joe Biden expressed concern about the rising tensions, reiterating that the US is working to prevent the conflict from widening.
Hezbollah, however, has vowed to continue its fight, with deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem declaring an "open-ended battle of reckoning" during Aqil’s funeral on Sunday.
“We will safely return the residents to their homes, and if Hezbollah has not understood this yet, it will get another blow and another blow — until the organization understands,” he said in a video statement.
IDF chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi made this declaration on Sunday, following an intense week of Israeli military action against the Lebanon-based group.
Halevi, speaking from the Israeli Air Force’s Tel Hanof base, emphasised Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of northern residents, who have been displaced for nearly a year due to Hezbollah’s attacks. His comments came after a significant Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed top Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and other senior terror leaders.
Aqil, Halevi noted, had spent years planning attacks on Israel, including operations aimed at occupying the Galilee.
“Aqil’s assassination will shake Hezbollah,” Halevi said, adding that Israel’s message to Hezbollah is clear: "We will keep hitting until they understand that the displaced Israelis will return to their homes."
Defense minister Yoav Gallant echoed this determination, describing the past week as the worst Hezbollah has ever faced. During an operational meeting with senior IDF officers, Gallant stressed that Israel would use all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of northern residents.
In recent days, Israel has escalated its offensive, with airstrikes targeting hundreds of Hezbollah sites in Lebanon. Halevi warned that Israel’s capabilities have not yet been fully utilised, stating, “The price Hezbollah is paying has increased, and our attacks will only intensify.”
The security situation has grown increasingly tense, with Hezbollah firing 85 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday alone, including targeting key sites such as a Rafael defence facility near Haifa and the Ramat David Airbase.
Some 1.5 million Israelis are currently in Hezbollah’s line of fire, according to Israeli assessments. Despite this, the group has refrained from using its more advanced precision missiles, likely to avoid provoking a full-scale war.
Gallant lauded the Beirut operation that killed Aqil, calling it a "significant and powerful" action. He underscored that the IDF's goal is to safely return displaced Israelis to their homes. "We will take every necessary step to achieve that," he vowed.
The ongoing hostilities have claimed the lives of 26 civilians and 22 IDF soldiers in Israel, with Hezbollah reporting 504 of its fighters killed during the conflict. The security cabinet is set to meet on Monday to discuss the growing threat and further military strategies, as the IDF readies itself for potential escalations.
Meanwhile, schools across northern Israel remain closed due to the security situation, with classes held remotely. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , are considering ramping up military pressure, though efforts are being made to avoid sparking an all-out war. US President Joe Biden expressed concern about the rising tensions, reiterating that the US is working to prevent the conflict from widening.
Hezbollah, however, has vowed to continue its fight, with deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem declaring an "open-ended battle of reckoning" during Aqil’s funeral on Sunday.
