Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier stated in the Knesset: "We will not allow any threat to the residents of the north, and strict measures will not only continue but will escalate." On Thursday, Israel struck the towns of Al-Mahmoudiya, Naba al-Tasah, and Damascusieh in southern Lebanon. On Sunday, Israel targeted the military commander of Hezbollah, Haytham Ali al-Tabtabai, who was assassinated along with other group members in a raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel launched a series of new airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon two days after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pledged not to stop the attacks, which he said are targeting "Hezbollah". Israel has recently escalated its attacks on Lebanon amid increasing pressure from the United States on the government.
