The New York Times reported today (June 2nd, Hanoi time) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he had a phone call with US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in which Netanyahu affirmed that "Israel's position on Lebanon remains unchanged."
"I told President Trump that if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks on our cities and civilians, Israel will attack targets in Beirut," Netanyahu said, adding that Tel Aviv's forces are simultaneously "continuing planned operations in southern Lebanon."
Thanks to US mediation, Israel reached a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on April 16. Since last week, the Israeli army has restarted large-scale attacks on Lebanon. Prime Minister Netanyahu described the latest operation as an attempt to expand the buffer zone preventing Hezbollah from attacking Israel.
By June 1st, Tel Aviv forces had captured the medieval Beaufort Castle, a crucial strategic location that provided fire control in southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the capture of Beaufort Castle as a "new phase and a major turning point" in Israel's military strategy in Lebanon.
In an attempt to salvage the ceasefire, US President Trump held phone calls with the Israeli Prime Minister and the Lebanese leader to urge Tel Aviv-Hezbollah to stop attacking the opposing side. Following the calls, the Lebanese government announced that it had "received signals from Hezbollah that they agree with the US proposal."
According to ABCNews, despite President Trump's statements, the Israeli military has just issued a warning to residents of the Dahiyeh suburbs south of Beirut to evacuate to avoid casualties.
Israel's attack on Lebanon and subsequent seizure of Beaufort Castle has provoked strong reactions from the international community. On June 1st, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that France had requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council regarding the incident. "Nothing can justify Israel's continued military campaign in Lebanon and its increasing territorial seizures," said Jean-Noel Barrot.
On the same day, he described Israel's reckless and disproportionate military escalation as having exacerbated an already devastating situation for Lebanese civilians and put further pressure on the Lebanese government. "Further escalation of tensions on this scale is completely disproportionate and cannot create the conditions for lasting peace," said James Kariuki, the UK's acting ambassador to the UN.
Source: https://cand.vn/israel-canh-bao-tan-cong-thu-do-beirut-cua-lebanon-post812656.html
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