Gallant: ‘It could be a hot summer’ in threat to Hezbollah

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday renewed his series of threats against Hezbollah in ongoing Israeli efforts to reduce the threat posed to returning residents to their northern border communities.

Speaking to troops near the Lebanon border, he said he is “determined to securely return the northern residents [to their communities] and to rebuild what was destroyed. The mission here is not yet complete – it could be a hot summer,” in a not-so-veiled threat that Israel may launch a larger strike against Hezbollah if the terror group does not agree to terms that would ensure security to the North.

Gallant’s comments came in the middle of several rounds of attacks by both the IDF and Hezbollah. Late Wednesday, the air force attacked a structure from Hezbollah’s Radwan force in Jabal Rezlane.

The IAF also attacked Hezbollah assets, including operatives in some of the structures, at Khiam, Odaisseh, Blida, Maroun al-Ras, and Ayta ash-Shab.

In addition, the air force attacked additional Hezbollah assets, including with operatives in some of the structures, at Khiam, Odaisseh, Blida, Maroun al-Ras and Ayta ash-Shab.

Earlier in the day, the IAF struck 20 Hezbollah targets, which included ammunition depots and terror infrastructure, in a span of a few minutes in southern Lebanon. Forces utilized fighter jets and artillery in the area around Ramyah village. Secondary explosions were also detected during the attacks, indicating the presence of ammunition depots.

Israeli forces utilized fighter jets and artillery in the area around the Ramyah village.

Secondary explosions were also detected during the attacks, indicating the presence of ammunition depots.

Other areas struck as well

The town of Marwahin and the Kafr Kila village were also struck earlier in southern Lebanon. The strikes came in response to rounds of rocket barrages Hezbollah fired on the North.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad posted that three of its fighters were killed at some point in one of the attacks.

Hezbollah said it had fired rockets and anti-tank missiles and launched drones at Israel multiple times on Wednesday, setting off numerous sirens in a wide range of communities.

Information about potential Israeli injuries from Hezbollah’s attacks was still not being released at press time.

The increased attacks on both sides continued multiple days of escalation, though neither side has crossed certain unspoken lines to avoid a major escalation.