By Muhammad Mamman
— Israel’s Defence Minister has declared that Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, is now a “marked target for elimination”, sharply escalating tensions between Israel and the powerful Lebanese armed group.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, the minister accused Qassem of directing attacks against Israel and vowed that the country would pursue those it considers responsible for cross-border hostilities.
The remarks come amid heightened violence along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where near-daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have fuelled fears of a broader regional conflict.
Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that they will expand military operations if attacks from southern Lebanon continue. “Anyone who threatens Israeli citizens will pay the price,” the defence minister said, signalling a possible intensification of targeted operations against senior Hezbollah figures.
Hezbollah has not immediately responded to the latest comments. The group, which wields significant political and military influence in Lebanon, has said its cross-border operations are carried out in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The United Nations and several regional powers have urged restraint, warning that a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and further destabilise the Middle East.
Analysts say Israel’s public designation of Qassem as a direct target underscores the fragile security environment and raises the stakes in an already volatile confrontation.
