Israel has attempted to target Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem at least twice in recent weeks, Saudi outlet Al Hadath reported on Monday, citing an anonymous Israeli source.
The report came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that he had instructed the IDF to intensify attacks against the terrorist organization.
Additionally, footage shared on social media showed crowds fleeing Beirut’s Dahiya district following the announcement of the escalation.
N12’s Barak Ravid reported on X/Twitter that a senior American official had hinted that Washington would support Israeli military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The remarks came amid Hezbollah’s continued escalation against Israel despite the ceasefire framework, according to the report.
US would support IDF acting against Hezbollah
The American official reportedly said during a briefing in Washington that Hezbollah had ignored repeated requests to stop firing at Israel, including a recent ultimatum. The official added that Israel was not expected to passively absorb attacks on its troops and civilians, reportedly saying, “This is not the Biden administration.”
Iran also warned Washington overnight that any Israeli strike on Beirut or the city’s southern suburbs would seriously threaten ongoing efforts to end the war and could collapse the current diplomatic track, Al Jazeera reported, citing an Iranian official.
The warning came as negotiations involving Tehran, Washington, and regional mediators continued in Doha, amid efforts to reach broader understandings linked to the Strait of Hormuz and regional de-escalation.
Shir Perets contributed to this report.