Israeli Foreign Minister Warns of ‘Devastating Blow’ to Lebanon

During a recent meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz spoke with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, seeking Italy’s help in diplomatically addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s presence along Israel’s northern border. Katz appealed to Tajani for Italian intervention with the Lebanese government to remove Hezbollah from southern Lebanon. He cautioned via a tweet that if Hezbollah is not ousted, Lebanon might suffer a catastrophic setback from which it may not easily recover.

This request comes in the context of ongoing tensions since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, which has seen frequent hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border. In these skirmishes, at least 202 individuals in south Lebanon have lost their lives, with 147 of them being members of Hezbollah. The conflict has also led to the displacement of many residents on both sides of the border, and Israel has stated its readiness to employ military force if necessary to ensure the return of its settlers to their homes.