An American delegation comprising of 24 Democratic Congress representatives visit the Israeli-Lebanese border. (Credit: X/@IDF)
BEIRUT — The Israeli Army has hosted an American delegation comprising 24 Democratic Party congress members on a visit to the Israeli-Lebanese border, the Israeli Army said in a tweet on Friday. The visit comes against the backdrop of recent heightened Israel-Hezbollah tensions.
The Israeli Army added that the visit was organized by self-described bipartisan, pro-Israel political action committee, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), led by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Former House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer.
"The delegation toured an Iron Dome battery and Hezbollah’s terrorist tunnels in northern Israel," according to the Israeli Army.
The army indicated that the Israeli and American sides had productive discussions on shared security challenges and strengthening the bond between Tel Aviv and Washington.
AIPAC said the delegation will also meet with top Israeli and Palestinian officials.
The delegation's visit comes after an increase in border tension between Lebanon and Israel in recent weeks following several security incidents, most notably following Israel's annexation of the northern part of the border village of Ghajar in July.
A few days after Israeli forces fenced off the northern part of Ghajar, Israel and unidentified parties in southern Lebanon exchanged artillery fire. Israeli forces also wounded three Hezbollah members with a stun grenade near the town of Boustan.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen threatened to "take Lebanon back to the Stone Age" and lashed out at Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, calling him "weak" and "hiding like a rat in the cellar," in an interview with Saudi newspaper Elaph published on Sunday.
"Hassan Nasrallah plays tricks because he's weak. He hides like a rat in the cellar," said Cohen. "Hezbollah is a branch of Iran in Lebanon," and the party has "transformed Lebanon from a prosperous state into a destroyed one, while Israel remains a strong country," he continued.
"Hassan Nasrallah said in 2006 that he didn't know Israel's strength. We suggest he doesn't try it again. Israel can take Lebanon back to the Stone Age," added the minister, in reference to the 2006 July war that killed 1,200 Lebanese, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mainly soldiers.