According to multiple Hebrew media reports, Gallant told the mayors that the plan was to ensure Hezbollah forces are not present south of the Litani River, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 2006’s Second Lebanon War.
Gallant said a diplomatic solution to cross-border tensions with Lebanon was possible, but if it could not be achieved, Israel would deal a heavy blow to Hezbollah in the country’s south.
Gallant met Wednesday in Nahariya with mayors and the heads of councils of the communities in the north that have been forced to flee, due to the cross-border fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, as Hezbollah has launched regular attacks on civilian communities and military forces.
Resolution 1701 barred Hezbollah from maintaining a military presence south of the Litani, which is located some 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has blatantly violated that resolution and regularly launches attacks on Israel from near the border. The UN force charged with enforcing the resolution, UNIFIL, has done little to push back against such actions. READ MORE
