Netanyahu vows escalation in Lebanon, sets Hezbollah disarmament as condition for talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened further escalation Saturday in Lebanon, saying Israel would only agree to negotiations if Hezbollah is disarmed and a lasting peace agreement is reached.

In a recorded speech, Netanyahu claimed that Lebanon recently sought to open direct negotiation channels “as a result of the strength we showed.”

Netanyahu said he agreed to talks on two conditions: dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons and reaching a lasting peace agreement.

Warning of continued military action, Netanyahu said the war “is not over yet,” claiming Israel achieved “enormous achievements.”

Late Friday, the Lebanese presidency said Lebanon and Israel agreed to hold their first meeting in Washington on Tuesday, a move condemned by Hezbollah.

Israel’s large-scale offensive on Lebanon since March 2 has killed 2,020 people and injured 6,436.

Netanyahu claimed that Iran is “no longer what it used to be,” alleging it faces increasing internal difficulties and is “struggling to survive.”

He pledged to continue efforts to remove enriched uranium from Iran “whether through an agreement or by force.”

*Writing by Rania Abushamala in Istanbul