Lebanon’s Foreign Minister publicly acknowledged that his country is no match for Israel militarily, calling instead for international pressure to force Israel into retreat.
“We are facing a state with strong capabilities that we cannot confront militarily,” the minister said in a televised statement. “Therefore, we are requesting diplomatic efforts and asking our friends to pressure Israel to withdraw. But so far, Israel has not responded. What more can we do beyond political and diplomatic efforts?”
The remarks underscore Lebanon’s growing desperation as Hezbollah’s offensive campaign against Israel continues to backfire. Since October 8, 2023—when Hezbollah opened the northern front in coordination with Hamas’ invasion from Gaza—Israel has responded with increasing intensity, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, weapons depots, and command centers deep within Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force has eliminated dozens of senior Hezbollah operatives, dismantled cross-border terror tunnels, and forced over 70,000 Israeli residents to evacuate northern communities due to the continued threat of rocket fire.
Israel’s military response has made clear that any aggression from Hezbollah or other Iranian-backed forces will be met with overwhelming force. Despite Hezbollah’s bravado, it has suffered major losses, and its strategic position continues to deteriorate.
The Lebanese minister further urged the United States to intervene, saying, “The only solution is for the American state, which has interests with Israel, to pressure it—along with the international community.”
He concluded by calling for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 following the Second Lebanon War. The resolution called for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and for the Lebanese Armed Forces to assert control over southern Lebanon—a mandate that has been blatantly ignored for nearly two decades.
Israel has long warned that Hezbollah’s illegal military buildup in southern Lebanon—funded, armed, and directed by Iran—is a direct violation of Resolution 1701. Instead of disarming Hezbollah, the Lebanese government has allowed it to embed itself deeper within civilian areas, using the population as human shields.
The foreign minister’s plea reflects a harsh reality: Lebanon’s sovereignty has been hijacked by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization that answers not to Beirut but to Tehran. As long as Hezbollah controls Lebanon’s war decisions, Israel will continue to act in defense of its citizens—and it will not be deterred by empty diplomatic appeals.
