Israel’s potential war goal justification against Lebanon
A view shows smoke and fire on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel, after Israel said it carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, as seen from Tyre, southern Lebanon, on August 25, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
As the Israeli offensive in Gaza continues, Israel intensifies its airstrikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, indicating a potential expansion of the conflict across the region. Amid these developments, several Israeli ministers ramp up their war rhetoric, hinting at Israel’s potential war goal to annex southern Lebanon.
Recently, Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli asserts on social media that, due to Lebanon’s lack of sovereignty, Israel is entitled to modify its borders and occupy areas to prevent attacks. This claim could signal Israel’s potential war goal against Lebanon.
The claim ‘Lebanon is not sovereign state’ fuels war goal
Chikli argued that Lebanon does not meet the criteria of a sovereign state, thus justifying Israel’s potential invasion and annexation of southern Lebanon.
He described the region as largely dominated by “a hostile Shi’ite population” and expressed the belief that Syria and Iran also do not warrant recognition as sovereign states.
In a series of three posts on his social media account, Chikli contended that the Israeli forces have both the right and duty to “take over” any territory from which missiles have been or could be launched at Israel.
He stated, “Lebanon, despite having a flag and political institutions, does not meet the definition of a state.”
To bolster his argument and further justify Israel’s potential war goal, Chikli pointed out that southern Lebanon, which borders Israel, is effectively controlled by Hezbollah. “It is predominantly inhabited by a hostile Shi’ite population and is effectively governed by Hezbollah, which initiated hostilities against the State of Israel on October 8,” he noted.
‘Syria and Iraq are not legitimate states,’ claims Israeli minister
Chikli further claimed that, by his rationale, Syria and Iraq also fail to qualify as legitimate states. “Given these circumstances,” he wrote, “Israel has a responsibility to assert its sovereignty, protect its citizens, and keep the enemy at bay.”
War goal justification of Lebanon starts with a ‘buffer zone’
Meanwhile, the Israeli minister added a suggestion to these statements, which were interpreted as Israel’s potential war goal. He proposed creating an Israel Defense Forces-controlled “buffer zone” in any Lebanese territory from which missiles have been fired or could potentially be launched, including areas monitored by Hezbollah spotters.
Meanwhile, Chikli is among several Israeli ministers advocating for the government to cease all humanitarian aid to northern Gaza and urging military operations to “cleanse” the region, with similar recommendations for other areas.
Why Now?
Tensions have escalated following Friday’s deadly Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut that killed at least 45 people, including children and women, and wounded dozens more.
Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members were killed in the Israeli strike, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and senior commander Ahmed Wahbi.
This attack follows two days after at least 37 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured in two waves of pager explosions across Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the blasts, while Tel Aviv has neither denied nor confirmed its involvement.
Hezbollah and Israel have been waging a cross-border war since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7 last year, when a cross-border attack by Hamas led to the deaths of some 41,400 people, mostly women and children.
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