00:00This Israeli army video purportedly shows strikes on Hezbollah targets in
00:04southern Lebanon. As the cross-border conflict continues to simmer, a war of
00:09words between Israel and the militant group is raising fears that it could
00:13escalate. A worrying prospect for weary residents of Beirut.
00:18Lebanon doesn't want a war. Nobody wants a war. There have to be negotiations
00:24between Israel and Hezbollah. We're living in this race between a deal and a
00:29war, so people are worried and waiting, even though there are a lot of expats
00:34and visitors who are planning to come to Lebanon this summer as if there's
00:38nothing happening. Following months of almost daily cross-border fire, the
00:43Israeli army said Tuesday it has approved plans for a military operation
00:47in Lebanon. Hamas's ally Hezbollah has been exchanging strikes with Israel
00:52since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7th, with the aim of pulling Israeli
00:57forces away from the embattled Gaza Strip. In Israel, where residents from
01:03border areas have been displaced for months, some citizens are calling for
01:07action. I believe we need to start taking more action and get serious with
01:14Hezbollah because they're simply doing whatever they want. I grew up living on
01:20the border and I was born there and I know what it's like to live close to
01:23Lebanon, but it never felt as dangerous as it does now. Hezbollah's leader said
01:29Wednesday that it does not want the conflict to expand, but sent a warning
01:33that it would be ready to fight a regional war and could even strike
01:37Israel's ally Cyprus, an EU country which has hosted Israeli forces for military
01:42drills. The warnings by both sides followed a visit by a US envoy, who this
01:48week met with officials in Lebanon and Israel in the latest attempt to
01:52de-escalate tensions.
Comments