UN peacekeeping force vehicles patrol near the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon along the concrete wall erected by Israel in 2018. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The commander of the Israeli army’s northern command, Amir Baram, said on Tuesday that in the event of a war against Lebanon, Israel will destroy all the infrastructure used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to a tweet by the Arabic-speaking spokesman of the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee.
Here’s what we know:
• Baram said that the Israeli army is willing to “destroy all the infrastructure at the blue line, to the last stone! This will be the fate of all facilities in villages or towns used by this terrorist army," referring to Hezbollah’s "recent increase activity to set up outposts" in the villages of Southern Lebanon.
• According to Adraee’s tweet, Baram’s statement came on the occasion of the commemoration of the July war between Israel and Lebanon, where he added that ”it seems Lebanon will remain in the dumping ground of Hezbollah and Iran and our army will continue to work in Syria and Lebanon whether by providing daily security or through an undercover battle to undermine all terrorist efforts."
• The statement also came after the arrival of a floating production, storage and offloading unit from the power company Energean arrived over the weekend in the disputed Karish field, located in contested waters near Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had announced earlier today that US envoy Amos Hochstein is expected in Beirut "on Sunday or Monday," while the Lebanese authorities have invited him to visit to discuss the dispute with Israel over the delimitation of the maritime border. U.S. diplomatic spokesman Ned Price had said yesterday that no visit by the U.S. envoy is planned at this time.
• In 2006, a war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah in July and August. The 33-day conflict began on July 12, 2006 and resulted in m ore than 1,200 Lebanese were killed during the war, mostly civilians. The Israelis suffered 160 deaths, mostly soldiers. The Israeli assault was known for its extensive damage to Lebanon’s infrastructure, flattening entire neighborhoods, damaging or destroying nearly every bridge in the country and thousands of buildings, vital infrastructure, transport hubs, and industrial buildings were damaged or destroyed. The Lebanese government estimated the bill for reconstruction at $2.8 billion.
• Lebanon is still technically in a state of war with Israel, and several incidents, tensions and violations of Lebanon’s airspace occur regularly.