Israel warns about last chance to avoid conflict with Lebanon

(MENAFN) The Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued a stern warning, describing the current moment as the final opportunity to avert a major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The ministry's statement emphasizes the urgent need for Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon to avoid a full-scale clash that could have severe consequences for both sides.

This warning follows a recent escalation, with Israel attributing a rocket attack on a soccer field in the Golan Heights on Saturday to Hezbollah. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 12 teenagers and children and left about 20 others injured. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the incident.

Oren Marmorstein, the spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, labeled the attack as a “massacre” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. He claimed that the rocket used in the attack was of Iranian origin and pointed out that Hezbollah is the only organization known to possess such weapons. Marmorstein warned that Israel would retaliate against the attack and stressed that the international community must act decisively to prevent a broader war.

He urged global leaders to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was unanimously adopted in 2006 to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution aimed to establish a neutral buffer zone between the two sides. While Israeli forces complied by withdrawing from Lebanon, Hezbollah has remained active in the southern region near the Israeli border, failing to fully implement the resolution's terms.

Marmorstein emphasized that the current situation is critical and called for immediate diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. He urged the international community to impose sanctions on Iran, which has long supported Hezbollah, and to classify both the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

The situation underscores the high stakes involved in the ongoing tension between Israel and Hezbollah, with potential repercussions that could extend beyond the immediate conflict, affecting regional stability and international relations.

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