Netanyahu delays UN trip for 2nd time amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his departure to New York for the second time amid an unprecedented escalation with Hezbollah that threatens to spark a full-scale war.

Originally scheduled to leave on Monday, Netanyahu’s trip was delayed by a day and has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, according to Israel’s Army Radio.

The Israeli premier is expected to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Friday.

Should the security situation with Lebanon deteriorate further during his stay, Netanyahu will return to Israel immediately after his speech, instead of Saturday evening as initially planned, the broadcaster said.

In the event that Netanyahu does not travel, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, or Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon are expected to deliver the speech on his behalf, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The delay follows intensive airstrikes launched by Tel Aviv on Lebanon since early morning, in the heaviest bombardment since Oct. 8, 2023.

The Israeli army said that it hit more than 300 targets across Lebanon since Monday morning.

Tension has mounted between Hezbollah and Israel following a deadly airstrike on Friday that killed at least 45 people, including children and women, and injured dozens in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Ahmed Wahbi, were killed in the Israeli strike.

The attack came two days after at least 37 people were killed and over 3,000 others injured in two waves of wireless communication device explosions across Lebanon.

While the Lebanese government and Hezbollah blame Israel for the explosions, Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its involvement.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.