Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would continue airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon “without mercy,” a day after Iran-backed forces attacked an Israeli base that killed four soldiers.
Netanyahu said this as Israeli warplanes raided Lebanon, including a house in the north of the country where Health Ministry officials say at least 21 people have died.
“I would like to make it clear: We will continue to attack Hezbollah mercilessly everywhere in Lebanon – including Beirut,” Netanyahu said at the Golani Brigade Training Base, which was hit by a Hezbollah drone on Sunday evening.
More than 60 people were injured in a camp near the city of Binyamina in central Israel. It was one of the bloodiest attacks in Israel since the war in Gaza began a year ago.
The Shiite militant group has threatened Israel with more attacks if the country does not stop its attacks on Lebanon.
“We are continuing to fight. We are paying a heavy price but we have achieved a lot that we will continue to achieve,” Netanyahu told the soldiers at the camp, according to a statement from his office.
The Prime Minister’s statement about the attack on Beirut is noteworthy, as previously there were unconfirmed reports in the Israeli media that Netanyahu ordered the forces, urged by the American government, to refrain from attacking the Lebanese capital.
From Friday until Monday evening, there were no Israeli airstrikes in Beirut.
Israel attacks a house in northern Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike on a house in northern Lebanon killed at least 21 people, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Eight others were injured, the department said. He went on to say that a DNA test is being done on the remains to see who they are.
The Israeli strike hit a house in the Aito area where people who fled from southern Lebanon were taking shelter, a Lebanese security source said.
It was the first time that this area was hit by Israel.
Lawyer Michel Moawad, from the affected region, said that the area was targeted by a member of Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah, backed by Iran, have traded heated exchanges almost daily for a year.
The Israeli army started attacking Lebanon two weeks ago as the air force attacked Lebanon.
Underground Hezbollah compound
Israeli forces have discovered an underground Hezbollah base in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Monday.
This underground facility is said to have served as a base for the Lebanese Radwan army, and weapons, ammunition and motorcycles were stored there.
The army released a video showing the bedrooms, kitchen and sanitary facilities in the building.
The Israeli military said the underground facility was built in such a way that Radwan soldiers could arrive, arm themselves and enter Israeli territory on foot or on motorcycles.
According to the military, the area is under a civilian area in southern Lebanon.
When the underground area was discovered, the soldiers encountered a Radwan fighter who had holed up there, according to a military report. Israel’s forces killed him.
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