JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon on Thursday that if its government fails to prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks on Israel, the Israeli military will seize control of the territory itself to ensure security.

Katz made the statement during a situation assessment with senior Israel Defense Forces officers, following Hezbollah’s heavy rocket barrages toward northern Israel the previous day.

“Hezbollah launched heavy barrages toward the State of Israel yesterday. The IDF responded forcefully in the Dahiyeh — the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold — and against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon,” Katz said.

He added that he had directly warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun: “If the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel, we will take the territory and do it ourselves.”

Katz also said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the IDF to prepare for an expansion of military activity in Lebanon aimed at restoring calm and security to Israeli communities in the north.

The comments come amid escalating cross-border exchanges, despite a nominal ceasefire agreement from late 2024 that called for Hezbollah’s disarmament and withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating those terms by continuing to threaten its northern border.

The Israeli military has carried out intensified strikes in recent days, including in Beirut’s southern suburbs and other Hezbollah strongholds, in response to rocket fire.

No immediate response was available from Lebanese officials to Katz’s warning.