Foreign
‘We’ll act against you anytime, anywhere’: Netanyahu’s fresh warning to Iran, Hezbollah
Netanyahu said, quoting Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, “Hezbollah has lost its supply route through Syria.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned Iran and Hezbollah that Israel will continue to act against them to achieve total victory and that he discussed this matter with US President-elect Donald Trump.
“I say to Iran and Hezbollah, to prevent you from harming us, we will continue to act against you as much as is required, anytime, anywhere,” Netanyahu said in a speech posted to X/Twitter.
Addressing Israel’s actions regarding recent developments in Syria, Netanyahu stressed, “Israel has no interest in confronting Syria. We will shape our policy based on the reality on the ground. For decades, Syria was an active enemy of the State of Israel.
IDF operates in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria on December 13, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Preventing Hezbollah from rearming
“In recent days, we have taken a series of intensive actions. Together with Defense Minister Katz, I directed the IDF to thwart potential threats from Syria and prevent terrorist elements from gaining a foothold near our border.”
Netanyahu stated that Israel’s actions in Syria have been justified through the effects they’ve had on Hezbollah’s capabilities.
Netanyahu said, quoting Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem from a televised speech on Saturday, “Hezbollah has lost its supply route through Syria.”
While reiterating Israel’s preference to avoid conflict, Netanyahu affirmed the nation’s determination to curb Hezbollah’s rearmament. “This is an ongoing test for Israel. We must meet it – and we will meet it,” he said.
Netanyahu described his conversation with Trump as “very friendly, very warm, and very important.”
“We discussed the need to complete Israel’s victory and spoke extensively about the efforts we are making to bring our hostages home. We are working tirelessly to bring back our hostages, both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu said. “I’ll add that the less we talk about this, the better our chances of success, and with God’s help, we will succeed,” his speech concluded.
France’s Foreign Ministry expresses in a statement its “deep concern” at the renewed outbreak of fighting in southern Lebanon.
The Quai d’Orsay condemns rocket attacks against Israel from Lebanon over the weekend, while calling on Israel to exercise restraint in its response.
“France reiterates the importance of not compromising the significant progress made in recent months to ensure the security of Israelis and Lebanese people on both sides of the Blue Line,” the statement reads, adding that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot conveyed these messages to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.
The Houthis announced an aerial blockade on Ben-Gurion Airport and threatened any airlines that fly to Israel.
Yemen’s Houthis announced a blockade on Ben-Gurion Airport and warned major airlines from flying to Israel, the terror organization said in a Saturday morning statement.
“After the success of our Yemeni Armed Forces in cutting off Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, a blockade is imposed on Ben-Gurion Airport in occupied Palestine,” the Houthis wrote in a statement on X/Twitter.
The Houthis warned Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, United Airlines, and easyJet from flying to Israel for “everyone’s safety.”
Footage released by Houthi Military Media says to show a launch of missile, which the Houthis say they fired at Israel, at an unknown location in this screen grab obtained from a handout video released on December 19, 2024. (credit: Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS)
Houthis target Ben-Gurion Airport
The organization wrote that any other airlines flying to Ben-Gurion Airport would also be targeted.
“Please take the decision of the Yemeni Armed Forces seriously, as Ben-Gurion Airport is no longer safe until the aggression on Gaza stops,” the statement read.
The announcement comes after the Yemeni terrorist organization fired multiple ballistic missiles towards Israel in the past week.
The terror organization targeted Jerusalem with missiles for the third time in two months on Friday.
The removal of Majer came the day after an Israeli Air Force reservist was dismissed for a similar posting on social media.
An officer in the IDF’s intelligence branch has been removed from his reserve duty after a social media post that he refused to take part in a continuance of fighting, The Jerusalem Post confirmed Wednesday.
Michael Majer, an officer in intelligence, had written on X that he would not take part any continuance of action. His post criticized national leadership, stating that he was not going to obey decisions that he felt were contradictory to the best interest of the nation.
According to the IDF, Majer was permanently removed from his position on reserve duty.
“The thing that will most help protect my people now is to refuse to take part in the fighting in the service of a bunch of filthy traitors and in complete opposition to the interests of the people of Israel.”
Risking everything by speaking out against gov’t
Following the publication of his post, Majer emphasized that he made a difficult, personal decision to speak out as reservist, because it is a large part of his identity and social circle. He said that he stands behind every word he wrote, and even brought it up during his dismissal hearing.
“Every person must have red lines. As far as I am concerned, they were crossed a long time ago,” he wrote in response to his dismissal. “I will not take part in an action that is motivated by foreign interests and means abandoning the kidnapped to their deaths, sending soldiers to kill and be killed in vain, and continuing the multifaceted deterioration of the State of Israel. All of this under a regime that has long since lost all legitimacy and is solely for the preservation of its power.”
The removal of Majer came the day after an Israeli Air Force reservist was dismissed for a similar posting on social media, Israeli media reported. The IAF reservist navigator had written that they were fearful of the fate of the hostages and expressed extreme concern over efforts to fire Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and the attorney general.
These comments mimicked those of a pre-October 7 world, where hundreds of reservists threatened to not show up for duty in protest.
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