Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has announced the country’s victory over the Lebanese Shiite Islamist movement, Hezbollah.
Katz, who made this announcement on Sunday during a ceremony at Israel’s Foreign Ministry, stated that eliminating Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was the crowning achievement.
“Now it is our job to continue to put pressure in order to bring about the fruits of that victory,” he said.
Katz added that Israel is not interested in Lebanon’s internal politics, saying they have “learned our lessons,” but hoped an international coalition would seize the opportunity politically, and that Lebanon would join other countries in normalising relations with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in northern Lebanon and Gaza have killed dozens of people, including several children, officials report.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 23 people, including seven children, were killed on Sunday in Almat, near Byblos, to the north of the capital, Beirut.
In northern Gaza, the Civil Defense Agency reported that at least 30 people were killed in Israeli strikes on two houses in the besieged enclave.
The agency stated that the first strike, early Sunday, hit a house in Jabalia, killing “at least 25” people, including 13 children, and injuring more than 30.
They also reported that five more people were killed in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, with some still missing in the aftermath.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said rescue workers were still searching through the rubble following the strike in Almat.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has yet to comment on the strikes in Lebanon.