'Israel' warns of continued strikes on Lebanon until Hezbollah disarmed

'Israeli' Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday warned that 'Israeli' military operations in Lebanon will persist until Hezbollah is disarmed.

His comments came a day after 'Israeli' air strikes targeted southern suburbs of Beirut.

“There will be no calm in Beirut, and no order or stability in Lebanon, without security for the State of Israel,” Katz said in a statement. “Agreements must be honoured, and if you do not do what is required, we will continue to act — and with great force.”

Tensions escalated on Thursday after the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) issued evacuation warnings to residents in the Beirut neighborhoods of Haret Hreik, Hadath, and Burj al-Barajneh, claiming they were preparing to target underground drone-manufacturing sites allegedly operated by Hezbollah with Iranian support.

Shortly after the warnings, at least 23 drone and fighter jet strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, triggering panic and traffic chaos as civilians rushed to evacuate. According to Israeli media, the assault was the largest on Beirut since the truce and came with prior coordination with Washington.

In anticipation of a potential response from Hezbollah, the Israeli military also placed its missile defense systems in northern Israel on high alert.