Janice R. Andrews
In a recent interview with Le Figaro, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that Israeli forces have unearthed “state-of-the-art” Russian weaponry in Hezbollah-controlled areas of southern Lebanon. Netanyahu asserted that this discovery highlights Hezbollah’s violation of a 2006 UN Security Council resolution, which restricts weapon possession south of the Litani River to the Lebanese army exclusively.
Netanyahu detailed Hezbollah’s extensive network of tunnels and weapons caches in the region. The Washington Post corroborated this claim, reporting that Israeli operations also uncovered Chinese-made anti-tank weapons in areas under Hezbollah’s control.
These revelations come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. While the Israeli military has not officially confirmed these findings, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s military actions are aimed at ensuring the safety of northern Israeli citizens, many of whom have been displaced due to cross-border attacks.
Addressing concerns about potential civil unrest in Lebanon, Netanyahu maintained that Israel has no intention of meddling in Lebanese internal affairs. He stressed that Israel’s sole objective is to create conditions that allow evacuated Israeli citizens to safely return to their homes along the Lebanon border.
The ongoing conflict has taken a significant toll, with Lebanese health ministry data indicating at least 1,373 fatalities in Lebanon since the escalation began, though the actual number may be higher.
