Israeli Defense Minister Threatens Severe Consequences If Hezbollah Joins Iranian Attack on Israel

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Wednesday, stating that Israel is prepared to expand its “permanent” security zone in south Lebanon and displace more than one million Shiites in Lebanon if Hezbollah joins any Iranian attack on Israel. Katz made the remarks during a visit to the occupied part of south Lebanon, emphasizing that the Israeli government would not withdraw from the security zones.

Katz warned that if Hezbollah participates in an attack on Israel alongside Iran, it would face a “severe blow” and lose additional territory in south Lebanon, specifically in the areas of Nabatieh and the Litani River. These regions would become part of Israel’s permanent security zone, according to Katz. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are prepared to carry out the necessary maneuvers, he stated.

The minister also outlined plans to evacuate the entire Shiite population up to the Awali and Zahrani rivers, enabling a powerful strike against terrorist infrastructure in the area. This action, he said, would help push the drone threat away from northern Israeli communities. Additionally, Katz mentioned that Beirut’s Dahiyeh district would be evacuated, with its “terrorist infrastructure” targeted.

Katz cautioned that more than one million Shiites in Lebanon would become displaced as a result of these measures. He further criticized Hezbollah’s former leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, for having “destroyed Lebanon’s Shiite community” before his elimination. Katz also warned that current Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem could “destroy it completely” before he, too, is eliminated.

The statements reflect the Israeli government’s firm stance on regional security and its readiness to take decisive action against perceived threats. The warnings underscore the complex and volatile dynamics between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran, with significant implications for regional stability.

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