Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a direct appeal to Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Calling Lebanon "once the pearl of Middle East known for its tolerance and beauty", Netanyahu urged the people to take back their country, which "Hezbollah has turned into a stockpile of ammunition and a forward Iranian military base".
The Prime Minister's appeal on Tuesday came hours after Israel expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon, deploying more troops to begin “limited, localised, targeted operational activities” as part of the Jewish nation's 'Operation Northern Arrows' against Hezbollah.
In his video address, Netanyahu said, "This is a message to the people of Lebanon. Do you remember when your country was called the pearl of the Middle East? I do. So, what happened to Lebanon? A gang of tyrants and terrorists destroyed it. That's what happened."
"Lebanon was once known for its tolerance, for its beauty. Today, it's a place of chaos, a place of war," he added.
He also warned the people of Lebanon to save their nation "before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. It doesn't have to be that way".
"Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice. You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity. If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense. It doesn't care if Lebanon is dragged into a wider war."
He also reiterated his vow to eliminate Hezbollah and claimed to have killed thousands of its militants, including former chief Hassan Nasrallah and his likely successors.
"Israel has decided to put an end to this. We've decided to do whatever is necessary to return our people safely to their homes. Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel also has a right to win! And Israel will win."
Hezbollah, however, has remained defiant despite Israel's steady advances and unabated strikes against Lebanon since the past three weeks that have led to deaths of over 1,400 people and displaced another 1.2 million.
Earlier on Tuesday, Naim Qassem, Nasrallah's former deputy, insisted the militant group had overcome the recent “painful blows” from Israel and that its capabilities were “fine”.
