This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Israel cannot stop home demolitions in southern Lebanon, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Wednesday, following statements by US Vice President JD Vance that a draft agreement with Iran includes Lebanon, Anadolu reports.
“Israel cannot stop the demolition of houses in southern Lebanon. We simply cannot stop, that’s all,” Ben-Gvir said in comments carried by the Knesset’s channel.
“We cannot allow the residents of southern Lebanon to return. We must continue to control the territory even if we disagree with (US President Donald) Trump, we are an independent state,” he added.
In statements early Wednesday, Vance described the agreement with Iran as “regional peace,” saying it “will include the Gulf states, Israel, and it will include Lebanon.”
“The basic idea is that this is a genuine regional peace agreement,” he added.
Tensions have continued to flare along the Lebanese-Israeli border despite a recent understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending their military conflict that erupted after Israel and the United States launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28.
READ: Ben Gvir attacks Trump-Iran deal: Israel ‘not bound by US agreement’
Iranian officials have repeatedly said that ending Israeli attacks across regional fronts, particularly in Lebanon, is among the main objectives of the memorandum of understanding expected to be signed between Tehran and Washington on Friday.
Israeli officials, however, have indicated that military operations in Lebanon will continue despite the agreement, raising doubts about prospects for a de-escalation on the Lebanese front.
Israel has been waging an offensive on Lebanon since March 2 that has left thousands killed and wounded and more than 1 million displaced, according to the latest official figures.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous war between 2023 and 2024. During the current offensive, Israeli forces pushed more than 10 kilometers into Lebanon.
READ: Trump says Israel’s Netanyahu must be ‘more responsible’ on Lebanon
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
- Trump says US will have to give Iran’s money back
- When the Iran War is over: Why the West Bank may be Netanyahu’s next front
- Is Israel Losing Its American Shield? | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani
- Israel cannot stop home demolitions in southern Lebanon: Ben-Gvir
- Italy to reopen embassy in Tehran on Friday
- Trump turns on Israel over Lebanon war, says Syria could fight Hezbollah better
- The war that failed to define Iran
- US: Clinton says Netanyahu is ‘obsessed’ with Iran, Saudi normalisation
- Israel approves Jewish religious school construction in occupied West Bank’s Hebron
- Pope Leo stresses need for US-Iran deal to enhance security, stability across Middle East
- Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir appoints relatives of slain Israelis as prison inspectors: Reports
- Iran won, power no longer looks the same
- When peace becomes a media battlefield
- ‘Without me there is no Israel’ says Trump warning Tel-Aviv to stop flattening homes
- UAE plans to cut Strait of Hormuz dependency to ‘zero’: Report
- Israeli occupiers set fire to 2 mosques, army demolishes Palestinian home in occupied West Bank
- Trump says Iran pact ‘not final,’ warns of renewed strikes
- HRW: Israel escalating home demolitions, evictions in East Jerusalem
- Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya warns Israel of ‘harsh response’ over southern Lebanon violations
- The art of the recycled deal: Trump and the outcome Israel cannot tolerate
- Al-Aqsa preacher says opening of embassies in Jerusalem will not change its Palestinian status
- Trump considers dismissing senior officials opposed to Iran deal, including defence secretary, CIA chief
- Israel strips Hebron Municipality of planning and construction powers
- Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Ronnie Chatah: Will The Big Boys Squeeze Lebanon?
- Israeli media: UAE security delegation visited Israel secretly during Iran war
- US rejects Israeli request to review Iran agreement memorandum, Hebrew media report
- Call for Hamas de-proscription
- Iraq’s bid to rein in Iran-linked militias becomes key test of US ties
- Israeli analysts call Netanyahu ‘liar,’ ‘humiliated’ by Trump after US-Iran deal
- Iran, Oman reaffirm commitment to ‘safe, free’ navigation through Hormuz after US deal
- Switzerland confirms US-Iran memorandum signing set for Friday at Burgenstock
- 4 killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon despite US-Iran understanding
- The international community is fast losing its diplomatic relevance
- Trump says Strait of Hormuz to be fully reopened by Friday on permanent basis
- Germany says Hormuz mine-clearing mission depends on US, Iran consent
- US-Iran deal may be seen as ‘betrayal’ in Israel, ex-premier Olmert says
- Israel kills 2 Palestinians in strike on civilians in central Gaza
- Qatari emir says trade partnership with US will exceed $1T
- The new oil fields: Why data centres are becoming strategic assets
- Trump says Israel’s Netanyahu must be ‘more responsible’ on Lebanon
- US military preparing to withdraw 20% of refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport: Reports
- Iran says parliament speaker Qalibaf to lead delegation in US deal signing
- Iranian ships cross US naval blockade area without obstruction for 1st time after deal: Report
- Israeli Supreme Court rejects appeal against Palestinian doctor’s detention, lawyer says
- ‘I would have burned’: US citizen recounts Israeli occupier attack in West Bank town
- Qatar plans rapid LNG output restart after Strait of Hormuz reopens: report
- Back to bad beginnings: The Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding
- US envoy, Iraqi premier discuss Baghdad’s efforts to bring all weapons under state control
- Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir cancels US trip after visa difficulties: Report
- Tehran says end of war in Lebanon ‘prerequisite’ for ending war with Iran
