Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that only military action against Hezbollah can ensure the safe return of evacuated residents of northern Israel to their homes.
Gallant made his remark during a meeting with United States President Joe Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein who arrived in Israel on Monday to discuss the ongoing tensions in the Middle East with Israeli officials. The likelihood of a ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza is "running out" as Hezbollah continues to "tie itself" to the Gaza-based militant organization, it was stated in the meeting readout posted by Israel's Defense Ministry.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border are running high, with both parties conducting frequent attacks on their opponents' positions amid speculations about a possible escalation of the conflict into a full-blown war.
