(New York Times) Liam Stack - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told senior presidential adviser Amos Hochstein on Monday that "military action" was "the only way" to end months of Hizbullah rocket fire at Israel. Gallant said Israel needed to change the security situation on the northern border. Since the start of the Gaza war in October, Hizbullah has been launching rocket attacks that have driven tens of thousands of Israeli civilians from their homes. As Israel scales down its assault against Hamas in Gaza, it has freed up more of its forces for a possible offensive against Hizbullah. Gallant said he had told Hochstein that the window for reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict was drawing to a close. "The only way left to return the residents of the north to their homes is via military action." Earlier on Monday, Gallant said he had delivered the same message to American Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin in a phone call. After meeting with Hochstein on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "while Israel appreciates and respects the support of the U.S., it will ultimately do what is necessary to safeguard its security and return the residents of the north securely to their homes."
2024-09-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive