Netanyahu: "Hezbollah and Iran Are Lebanon's Real Enemies"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to the people of Lebanon to stand against the pro-Iranian armed faction Hezbollah and Iran.

AP Yonhap News

On June 10 (local time), Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a video message to the Lebanese people, stating, "Israel is not at war with you," and added, "We are fighting Hezbollah, which has taken your country hostage, follows Iran's orders, and uses your territory to attack Israel."

He said, "Hezbollah is weaker than ever, and Israel is stronger than ever," claiming that the Israeli military has eliminated about 10,000 Hezbollah fighters and is clearing Hezbollah forces from southern Lebanon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also mentioned peace with Lebanon. He said, "We want peace with Lebanon," and continued, "We hope for a peace where both peoples can invest, build, and prosper together." He emphasized, "The only obstacle to this vision is Hezbollah."

He further stated that Hezbollah is sacrificing the Lebanese people for its own purposes, urging, "Seize your future. Stand with Israel."

Earlier, Israeli President Isaac Herzog also sent a message in Arabic to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, expressing hope for peace between the two countries. However, he claimed that peace depends on curbing Hezbollah's influence.

Hezbollah is part of what Iran calls the "Axis of Resistance." In early March, Hezbollah attacked Israel, declaring its support for Iran. In response, Israel bombed Hezbollah facilities across Lebanon and deployed ground troops to southern Lebanon, citing the need to eliminate Hezbollah's security threats.

In the process, it has been reported that more than 3,000 people have died and over 1 million have fled their homes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.