Following Israel’s elimination of four Radwan Force terrorists in southern Lebanon over the weekend, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened Lebanon with a return to war if the government continues to ignore its commitment to disarm Hezbollah.

The eliminated Radwan Force terrorists were involved in efforts to restore Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.

An Israeli official has confirmed to Al Arabiya that intelligence information shows that Hezbollah is rehabilitating itself and has smuggled hundreds of missiles from Syria in recent months.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, said over the weekend that Israel continues to carry out daily strikes in Lebanon because Hezbollah has retained about 40,000 terrorists and between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles.

“Thousands of missiles in southern Lebanon still threaten Israel,” he said. “It makes no sense that there is no dialogue between the two countries. Lebanon has no time to waste. It must consolidate its weapons. Israel may respond in Lebanon depending on developments.”

Speaking at a security conference in Bahrain, Barrack explained some of the reasons why it is so difficult to disarm Hezbollah. “Lebanon is a failed state,” Barack said. “It has no central bank; its banking system has collapsed. There is no electricity; people depend on private generators. Even water and education are provided by private suppliers. The state is Hezbollah, which in the south provides water and education.”

Barrack added that the Lebanese army has only about 60,000 troops equipped with old jeeps and AK-47 rifles. “A soldier in the Lebanese army earns about $275 a month, in comparison to a Hezbollah terrorist, who earns about $2,200,” he noted.

Katz stated, “Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the President of Lebanon is dragging his feet. The Lebanese government’s commitment to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon must be fulfilled. Maximum enforcement will continue and even intensify. We will not allow any threat to Israelis in the north.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)