Israel minister says Lebanon must 'burn' after troops killed
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday demanded intensified attacks against Lebanon following the death of four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, declaring that 'all of Lebanon must burn' and vowing that Israeli security took precedence over American pressure to rein in hostilities.
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday called for total war against Lebanon after the military confirmed four soldiers had been killed in combat inside the country's south. Writing on the social media platform X, the far-right minister rejected international calls for restraint and vowed that "all of Lebanon must burn" in retaliation for the deaths.
"With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit," Ben-Gvir wrote. He said he had relayed this position directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him: "For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep." He added that Israel's "supreme duty" to protect its citizens and soldiers took precedence over all other considerations.
Southern Lebanon under sustained bombardment
The minister's remarks followed confirmation from the Israeli army that four soldiers died during fighting inside Lebanese territory, where forces have advanced more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) beyond the border since operations began. The fatalities came amid sustained bombardment across southern Lebanon that continued past midnight despite reports of a US-Iran agreement containing provisions to end hostilities.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli strikes on inhabited homes in Al-Sharqiyah, Harouf, and Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh district killed at least 24 people and left several others unaccounted for, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency. The attacks also injured multiple residents, compounding a humanitarian crisis that has displaced more than one million people since Israel launched its offensive on March 2.
Death toll exceeds 3,900 since March
According to the latest official figures, Israel's military campaign in Lebanon has killed 3,912 people and wounded 11,873 others since early March. Ben-Gvir insisted that Israel needed to "go berserk" in its approach to the conflict, stating that the Middle East required tactics that would "obliterate" and "crush the terror" regardless of diplomatic pressure.
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