Katz threatens to evacuate the Beirut suburb if Hezbollah joins Iran

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Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened Lebanon with losing additional territory in the south, and expanding the Israeli security zone to include areas in Nabatieh and Litani, if Hezbollah joins Iran in any attack on Israel. He also threatened to evacuate Beirut's southern suburbs and target what he described as the party's infrastructure.

Katz said during a visit he made, on Wednesday, to southern Lebanon, accompanied by the Commander of the Northern Command of the Israeli Army, Major General Rafi Milo, the Commander of the 91st Division, Brigadier General Yuval Geis, and a number of military commanders, that the Israeli Army will work to evacuate the southern suburb of Beirut, noting that this operation will lead to the displacement of more than a million residents of the region.

He also added that Israeli forces are ready to carry out a ground operation in southern Lebanon in the event of any attack on Israel.

He also reiterated that Israeli forces “will not withdraw from the security areas in Lebanon and Syria,” according to what was reported by the Israeli Walla website.

Katz also inspected the villages on the front line, and listened to a briefing from commanders regarding Operation Silver Plow, which the Israeli army claims aims to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure in the region.

It is noteworthy that the Israeli Defense Minister had announced last April the launch of Operation “Silver Plow” in southern Lebanon, with the aim of destroying homes and facilities that Israel claims are used by Hezbollah as sites to launch anti-tank missiles and launch attacks on Israeli forces and border areas.

In September, the Israeli army announced the destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Heights near Nabatieh, and Tel Aviv said that the operation aimed to complete the consolidation of the security zone around the site, while confirming the continued presence of its forces to prevent the party from rebuilding its capabilities there, according to Reuters.

Israeli operations are still continuing in the south despite the understandings announced in June. On October 13, southern Lebanon witnessed four Israeli strikes, in addition to machine gun fire and artillery shelling in several areas, according to Reuters.