War-with-Lebanon rhetoric has flared up again in Israel over the last several days as fighting with Hezbollah escalated along the border in a particularly violent week. This last week saw wildfires ignited on either side of the border, Hezbollah intercepting another Israeli drone, the destruction of many homes and stores in southern Lebanon under Israeli bombs, an Israeli strike at the entrance of a hospital in Bint Jbeil, and another on an ambulance. Eight Hezbollah members, three civilians and a medic were killed.

On Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to occupy southern Lebanon and "severely damage" Beirut, in comments given to the press following a parliament session. On Tuesday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the border with Lebanon where fires raged, ignited by shells fired from across the border.

"They burn our regions, so we must burn all Hezbollah strongholds," Ben-Gvir said. "Destroy them. War!”

After a 20-hour operation, Israeli firefighters managed to quell the blazes on Tuesday that engulfed the northern city of Kiryat Shmona and its surroundings. Eleven people received treatment for smoke inhalation.

The Israeli war Cabinet is expected to meet Tuesday evening to discuss the latest developments along its border with Lebanon, the Jerusalem Post reported. A particularly violent night had prompted critics within Israel to condemn the government for its inability to secure the region after a prolonged conflict.

According to Haaretz, Hezbollah's escalation stems from substantial losses incurred on the Lebanese front. The mounting public pressure from within the Israeli government to respond raises the specter of an all-out war, promising unprecedented devastation.

"The situation in the North is deteriorating," Smotrich said, cited by Israeli media. "We need to move the security zone from Israeli territory in Galilee to southern Lebanon, including a ground invasion."

He pressed for the removal of Hezbollah militants and Lebanese civilians, purportedly harboring the group, extending beyond the Litani River and called for decisive strikes on Lebanese infrastructure, targeting Hezbollah's strategic hubs and inflicting substantial damage on Beirut, which he called "the capital of terrorism."

"We need to create a situation in which Lebanon is busy, for the next twenty years, with efforts to rebuild what remains after the blow inflicted on it, and not with waging terror against the State of Israel," said Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, which is part of Netanyahu’s coalition government.

The Israeli military has recently conducted exercises simulating maneuvers in Lebanon, as per official statements.

The Jerusalem Post noted on Monday that the Israeli army seemed to be bracing for an inevitable escalation, in line with the government's belief that it can achieve its military and political objectives without negotiating — solely through armed conflict.

Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar newspaper reported concerns voiced by major Western diplomats in Lebanon regarding the escalating war tensions, with purported indications from the UK suggesting a potential escalation by mid-June.

A source at the British embassy told L'Orient Today that it is not for the UK to comment on Israel’s military planning.

"The UK continues to work towards de-escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon. Our engagement with both sides is focused on generating the conditions for stability and security on the Blue Line. We are clear a conflict is not in anybody’s interest," the source said.

"We reject reports that the UK has suggested, let alone set diplomatic messages, to Lebanese authorities that Israel conducts military operations in June," the source added.