ALBAWABA- Israeli officials have issued fresh warnings suggesting potential strikes on Lebanese civilian infrastructure, escalating tensions amid ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon and renewed concerns over violations of international law.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said it “may be time to target Lebanon’s infrastructure,” while Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that displaced residents from southern Lebanon would not be allowed to return to their homes unless Israel’s northern security conditions are met.
The remarks came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited areas in southern Lebanon under Israeli control, vowing to continue military operations until stated objectives are achieved.
Footage circulated by Lebanese media and reviewed by international observers shows extensive destruction across villages south of the Litani River, including damaged residential areas, farmland, and transport routes. Analysts and human rights groups say the scale of devastation indicates a sustained pattern of destruction affecting civilian infrastructure in the region.
Lebanese authorities condemned the statements and ongoing operations, describing them as “clear violations of international humanitarian law.” Reports from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also document repeated strikes near or on UN positions, including damage to observation posts.
France and the United Kingdom jointly criticised the escalation, calling the strikes “unjustified and disproportionate” and urging an immediate halt to operations to prevent further civilian harm and regional destabilisation.
Despite rising tensions, Lebanon has announced plans to engage in direct talks with Israel in Washington under U.S. mediation, describing the negotiations as a final effort to secure a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.
The developments come amid broader regional instability following the collapse of the US–Iran ceasefire talks and heightened tensions across the Gulf, raising concerns that continued escalation in Lebanon could further undermine already fragile diplomatic efforts.
