Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to intensify military operations against Hezbollah, declaring that Israel will not ease its campaign but instead escalate pressure on the Iran-backed group operating in Lebanon.
“We will not ease the pressure; on the contrary, I say we will increase the pressure even more,” Netanyahu said in a video statement cited by Al Jazeera on Monday (May 25), adding that Israel is effectively in a state of war with Hezbollah.
The remarks came as Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon intensified, with mounting casualties and widespread destruction reported in southern and eastern regions of the country.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, Israeli air raids struck more than 30 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon on Sunday alone. The attacks resulted in at least two deaths, while Lebanon’s civil defense agency reported the destruction of a regional facility in Nabatieh.
A day earlier, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes, including women and children, underscoring the growing civilian toll of the escalating conflict.
Netanyahu’s comments also coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United States to establish a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli representatives recently held discussions in Washington focused on de-escalation measures, although Hezbollah was not included in the talks.
Lebanon has been drawn deeper into the broader regional conflict linked to tensions between the United States and Iran. Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, describing the strikes as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli operation, according to the group’s statements.
The escalation builds on a fragile ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024, following more than two years of intermittent conflict linked to wider regional hostilities surrounding the war in Gaza. The deal reportedly included provisions for a halt in hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
However, Lebanon has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the truce, alleging continued strikes on civilian infrastructure and populated areas despite the agreement.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health has reported that the total death toll from Israeli strikes has now risen to 3,123 people, reflecting the scale of destruction since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Netanyahu’s latest declaration signals a further hardening of Israel’s military stance, even as international actors continue to push for a renewed ceasefire framework aimed at preventing a broader regional war.
The situation remains highly volatile, with continued airstrikes in Lebanon and ongoing diplomatic activity underscoring the fragility of any potential de-escalation agreement.
