Netanyahu Says Lebanese Christian Villages Asked for Israeli Annexation
Netanyahu Claims Lebanese Christian Villages Sought Annexation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had asked to be annexed by Israel for protection from Hezbollah. [1] Netanyahu made the claim during an interview on Fox News’s The Sunday Briefing without naming any specific villages. [1] He said the villages sought annexation because Israel protects them against Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and that Israel does the same for Christians everywhere. [1] Christian villages in the Marjeyoun area of southern Lebanon denied media reports suggesting they had sought annexation. [1] The villages issued a statement on Friday affirming they had no power nor the legal right to make decisions of such magnitude. [1] They reaffirmed their determination to stay on their land and stressed their loyalty to their national identity along with their attachment to the Lebanese flag. [1]
Israeli Military Vows Continued Operations in Southern Lebanon
Netanyahu reiterated in a separate speech at a state ceremony on Sunday that Israel’s military would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon as long as necessary in order to protect the residents of the north and all the citizens of Israel. [1] Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited troops stationed near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Sunday. [1] Zamir vowed that the army would continue to operate decisively to remove threats from Lebanese territory. [1] The area around Beaufort Ridge remains saturated with Hezbollah terror infrastructure according to statements from the IDF chief. [2] Zamir emphasized that the agreement with Lebanon would not have been possible without the courage of Israeli soldiers and the operations led by Northern Command. [2] Netanyahu said Israel would keep forces in the region to address ongoing threats. [1]
Netanyahu Addresses Relationship With Trump
During his Fox News interview, Netanyahu addressed reported disagreements with US President Donald Trump over the deal that halted the war with Iran. [1] Netanyahu said the two leaders have an excellent relationship which is defined between allies. [1] He noted that ninety-nine percent of the time they see eye-to-eye but that as in any family or close friendship there are sometimes differences of opinion which they discuss openly. [1] Netanyahu added that they usually resolve such differences in a free spirit. [1] His remarks came a day after Trump told Axios that Netanyahu knows who the boss is. [1] In recent weeks Trump has repeatedly criticised the Israeli premier amid negotiations over the Iran deal, accusing him of ingratitude and calling him crazy over Israel’s escalation in Lebanon. [1] Netanyahu’s comments came amid reports of possible discussions between Trump and Netanyahu on a White House visit. [2]
Context of Israel-Hezbollah Clashes and Ceasefire
Since the war began some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have endured Israeli shelling, airstrikes, displacement, and infrastructure damage. [1] Most villages have remained inhabited despite Israeli evacuation orders, with residents choosing to stay to protect their homes, churches and farmland, though some were partially or fully evacuated. [1] During the war the Israeli military warned several Christian-majority villages through phone calls to mayors and local officials not to allow strangers in, referring to Hezbollah fighters. [1] Israeli forces have continued to clash with Hezbollah fighters despite a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon intended to pave the way toward a lasting end to hostilities. [1] Tensions persist with ongoing clashes between Israeli and Hezbollah forces despite the ceasefire agreement. [1] The IDF chief noted that the agreement with Lebanon followed intense operations in the north. [2]
Broader Regional Developments
Chants of “Kill Trump, Bibi” were heard in Tehran according to reports. [2] Israel sent Iron Dome systems to the UAE during the Iran war, as confirmed by Minister Regev. [2] Yemen’s president condemned Iran for operating a flight to transport Houthis to a funeral in Tehran without approval from the Yemeni government. [2] The Yemeni leader argued that allowing such international flights set a dangerous precedent, bypassed legitimate institutions, and exacerbated political division in Yemen. [2] A cargo vessel came under attack by unknown assailants off Yemen’s coast, according to UKMTO reports. [2] Former Israeli ambassador to the US described a related memorandum of understanding as a massive surrender to Iran. [2]
What to watch next: Netanyahu is expected to visit Washington in the coming days while Israeli forces maintain operations near Beaufort Castle and clashes continue along the Lebanon border despite the ceasefire.
