Israeli Finance Minister urges Netanyahu to resume strikes on Beirut

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume bombing Beirut in response to the increased attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Lebanese Hezbollah group on Israeli troops and cities in the north. This was reported by the Reuters news agency on May 25, citing a corresponding statement.

"Drone strikes that harm our fighters are not a predestination of fate. <...> For every drone strike in Beirut, there should be 10 falling buildings," Smotrich said in a message.

The minister's comments came after an Israeli soldier was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack on Sunday, May 24. The Israeli media, as specified, learned that Netanyahu rejected Smotrich's demands and preferred defensive measures.

"Smotrich has repeatedly made statements that go beyond the official Israeli policy, including that Israel should annex southern Lebanon and Gaza," the agency noted.

Israel's acting Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in turn, said that Israel should not accept the reality of using drones with explosives.

The location of the breakdown: Hezbollah threatened to expand the conflict with Israel

Meanwhile, the United States is studying a three-step settlement plan proposed by Iran.

On May 19, the Hezbollah press service reported the destruction of the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system platform at the Jal al-Allam position located near the border with Lebanon. This operation, as specified in the group, was a response to the alleged violation of fire by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which was recorded in the south of the Middle Eastern state. A day earlier, the same place announced that 339 military operations had been carried out against Israeli soldiers between April 16 and May 17.