Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a strong warning to Hezbollah, saying the group’s continued defiance could drag Lebanon into a wider and more destructive conflict. His comments came on Monday after Hezbollah’s leadership rejected proposals for direct talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at reducing cross-border tensions.
According to a statement released by Katz’s office, the defence minister accused Hezbollah of escalating the situation irresponsibly and warned that its actions would have severe consequences not only for the militant group but for the entire country of Lebanon.
“Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon,” Katz said in remarks directed to United Nations envoy to Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. He further cautioned that if the Lebanese government continues to align itself with or “take cover under the wing of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation,” the country risks being engulfed in widespread destruction.
“Fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz added, using symbolic language referencing Lebanon’s national emblem to underscore the potential national impact of continued hostilities.
The statement reflects rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have intensified in recent months amid the broader regional fallout from the Israel-Gaza conflict. Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Hezbollah of acting as an Iranian proxy and opening a second front in the north, while Hezbollah maintains that its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The latest remarks also come as international actors, including the United Nations, continue efforts to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon. Diplomatic channels remain strained, with proposals for direct negotiations reportedly facing resistance from Hezbollah leadership.
Observers warn that any further escalation could destabilise not only Lebanon’s fragile political and economic system but also the wider Middle East region, where multiple conflicts are already ongoing.
