Israel says will make ‘necessary decisions’ to halt Hezbollah attacks

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel said on Friday that it will soon make “necessary decisions” to halt attacks from Hezbollah.

“Israel cannot allow Hezbollah to continue attacking its territory and citizens, and soon we will make the necessary decisions,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X.

While Katz did not specify the nature of these decisions, Israeli officials have recently threatened a full-scale war on Lebanon unless Hezbollah fighters withdraw from the border area to the north of the Litani River.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military approved operational plans for a wide-scale attack on Lebanon amid rising border tensions with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah links the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, which began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Katz also called on the “free world” to “stand unconditionally” with Israel in its war against what he described as the “axis of evil,” led by “Iran and radical Islam.”

“Our war is also your war,” Katz continued, claiming, “Nasrallah's threat to Cyprus is just the beginning.”

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday that Israel plans to use Greek Cypriot airports and airspace if its own airports are targeted in the event of a full-scale war with Lebanon.

He warned that the island, located west of Lebanon, would be treated as an “enemy” in such a scenario.

In response, the Greek Cypriot government informed Lebanon on Thursday that it has no intention of getting involved in the current conflict in any capacity.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,450 people since last Oct. 7.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio