Netanyahu says Israel will 'intensify Lebanon offensive,' vows to 'crush' Hezbollah

Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will intensify its offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah, as the United States and Iran work to finalize terms of a deal aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East.

“We are not holding back; on the contrary, I have asked to accelerate,” Netanyahu said in a video released on his Telegram channel. “We will step up the blows, increase their strength, and we will crush Hezbollah.”

The remarks prompted some residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to flee amid fears of imminent airstrikes, according to local reports.

A senior U.S. official, quoted by Axios, suggested the Trump administration would support an escalation of Israeli military action in Lebanon. The official said Hezbollah had ignored repeated requests to halt fire on Israel and added that Israel could not be expected to “passively endure” attacks, stressing that “this is not the Biden administration.”

Despite a cease-fire in place since April 17, the Israeli army has continued near-daily strikes on Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violating the truce. Hezbollah, in turn, says it is carrying out operations against Israeli forces in Lebanese territory and military positions in northern Israel.

Amid escalating threats, precautionary evacuations and temporary displacements were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to the Al-Jadeed channel and the state-run National News Agency, as residents moved out of several neighborhoods.

Israeli officials also signaled possible expansion of the campaign. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for renewed strikes on the suburbs, while media reports said Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was considering the option. Channel 14 reported that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz discussed expanding the war to Lebanon, including potential strikes on residential buildings.