Hawkish Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has rejected US and Iranian calls to halt military operations in Lebanon
The Israeli army should continue operations in Lebanon despite pressure from the US, Israel’s hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said on Monday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has expanded its presence in southern Lebanon since early March, after the militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran. Tehran has since made ending the fighting in Lebanon a key condition in peace talks with the US, prompting President Donald Trump to condemn the Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
Speaking to reporters, Ben-Gvir argued that Israel should make it clear to Trump that it “cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” where more than 4,000 people have been killed since Israel resumed military operations. He added that Israel should not withdraw its troops and allow Hezbollah to rearm.
Ben-Gvir described Lebanon as a “country that supports terrorism,” adding that “even with a smaller number of soldiers, we can achieve results if Lebanon is our playground.” He previously wrote on X that “all of Lebanon should burn,” in response to Hezbollah attacks.
Under a US-Iranian memorandum of understanding signed last week, the sides declared an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
On Monday, US Vice President J.D. Vance said “very good progress” was made on a deconfliction mechanism for Lebanon during talks with Iran in Switzerland. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan released a joint statement saying the parties “agreed on the creation of a deconfliction cell,” while technical talks on the issue will continue this week.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, however, that Israel will retain “complete freedom of action” in Lebanon and “anywhere it is necessary.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army has “full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat.”
“The IDF has no restrictions in this regard,” Netanyahu added, according to the Times of Israel. Israeli politicians have criticized the US-Iranian peace roadmap for failing to advance Israel’s war objectives.
During a series of heated phone calls with Netanyahu this month, Trump urged the Israeli leader to halt strikes in Lebanon, reportedly accusing him of having “no f**king judgment.”
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