Netanyahu Orders Military to ‘Step on the Gas’ on Hezbollah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to intensify operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, vowing to “crush” the Iran-backed group as waves of airstrikes pounded southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday. The directive, issued in a video statement on Telegram on May 25, marks a significant escalation despite a fragile ceasefire that was extended just days earlier.
“We are at war with Hezbollah, and we will intensify our strikes,” Netanyahu declared, according to Al Jazeera. “I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations… We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them.”
Fragile Ceasefire Unravels
The escalation comes against the backdrop of a ceasefire agreement reached on April 17, which brought a temporary halt to open hostilities that erupted on March 2. The truce has been extended multiple times — most recently on May 15 for 45 days following talks in Washington that US officials described as “productive and positive.” However, both sides have continued exchanging fire on a near-daily basis, with each accusing the other of violations.
According to BBC News, the agreement “has seen a reduction in fire rather than a complete halt,” highlighting the precarity of the arrangement. Israel maintains that Hezbollah has repeatedly breached the ceasefire, while Hezbollah argues that Israel’s continued strikes and occupation of southern Lebanese territory constitute violations.
Airstrikes and Casualties
Following Netanyahu’s order, the Israeli military launched waves of airstrikes targeting what it described as Hezbollah “infrastructure” in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as multiple towns in the Tyre and Nabatieh districts of southern Lebanon. The Guardian reported that an AFP correspondent saw residents fleeing the southern suburbs of Beirut, a major Hezbollah stronghold, amid fears of further escalation.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that four people were killed in the town of Kfar Reman in the Nabatieh district, while two others were killed and 17 injured in Safad al-Battikh in the Bint Jbeil district. Israeli aircraft also dropped incendiary phosphorus munitions on forests in the Qlailah municipality, causing fires in citrus groves and farmland, according to France 24.
Lebanese authorities report that more than 3,100 people have been killed since hostilities began on March 2. Netanyahu claimed that over 600 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in recent weeks. The Israeli military confirmed that 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah, with one civilian contractor also killed.
The Drone Factor
A key driver of the escalation has been Hezbollah’s effective use of drones, including fiber-optic cable-guided drones that are difficult to intercept. Netanyahu acknowledged that Hezbollah had launched over 1,000 drones and more than 700 rockets at Israel in the past eight days alone, and confirmed that Israel had formed a special team to counter the drone threat. Israel has approved a special budget of approximately 2 billion shekels ($692 million) for technological countermeasures, as reported by Xinhua News.
Far-Right Calls for Further Action
Netanyahu’s escalation order aligns with demands from his far-right coalition partners, who have been pushing for an even more aggressive approach. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared: “For every explosive drone, 10 buildings must fall in Beirut. The response to a significant threat must be significant.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a “return to intensive warfare” and urged Netanyahu to inform US President Donald Trump that Israel is “returning to war in Lebanon,” including cutting off electricity and conquering the Dahiyeh district of Beirut.
Broader Geopolitical Context
The escalation is unfolding as the United States and Iran engage in ongoing negotiations in Doha to finalize terms of a broader Middle East peace deal. Iran has expressed “resolute support” for Hezbollah, its key proxy in the region. The US-Iran talks, which include discussions on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, face additional complexity as Israel’s far-right views any deal that does not eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat as dangerous.
What’s Next
The intensification of hostilities threatens to jeopardize the next round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations scheduled for June 2-3 in Washington. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has defended holding talks with Israel but insists that a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is “non-negotiable.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has reiterated his opposition to direct negotiations and refused to disarm the group, drawing condemnation from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
As airstrikes continue across southern Lebanon and Hezbollah responds with drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel, the region faces the prospect of a broader conflagration that could draw in Iran directly — particularly if the US-Iran talks collapse. For now, the ceasefire that was meant to bring peace to the Israel-Lebanon border appears to be little more than a formality.