Two of Israel’s far-right ministers on Monday called for a major escalation of the war in Lebanon, with one openly advocating attacks on Beirut in response to Hezbollah drone strikes.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to coordinate with US President Donald Trump and declare that Israel was “returning to war in Lebanon”.
He called for electricity to Lebanon to be cut off, for Israel to seize the Zahrani area in southern Lebanon, and for “intensive warfare” to resume.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich went further, calling for strikes on Beirut in response to Hezbollah’s use of explosive drones against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and across the border.
“For every explosive drone, 10 buildings must fall in Beirut,” Smotrich said on Telegram.
