Lebanon Issues Warning to Israel as It Prepares for War: 'Uncontrollable'

(From October 20, 2023) Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib offered a warning for Israel on Friday as his country and its people make preparations as fears mount that Israel's conflict with Hamas could become regional.

On October 7, Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza. Some 1,200 people had been killed in Israel, the Associated Press reported. Gaza's health ministry, which is run by Hamas, said the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 4,100, according to AP.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is "at war" and has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza. Although Israel has said that it will allow some aid into Gaza through Egypt, the shipments have reportedly been delayed. Israel has called up 360,000 army reservists as it prepares for a possible ground offensive into the densely populated territory, which is estimated to be home to about 2.3 million people.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group that the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, has exchanged near daily fire across the border with Israel since the Hamas attack. While Lebanese leaders say they do not want to be drawn into war, Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, holds significant political power and support in the country. (READ MORE at Newsweek)