{"id":44548,"date":"2024-09-17T06:17:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T06:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/israel-sets-new-war-goal-of-returning-residents-to-the-north\/"},"modified":"2024-09-17T06:17:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T06:17:52","slug":"israel-sets-new-war-goal-of-returning-residents-to-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=44548","title":{"rendered":"Israel sets new war goal of returning residents to the north"},"content":{"rendered":"


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“The Security Cabinet has updated the objectives of the war to include the following: Returning the residents of the north securely to their homes,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.<\/p>\n

“Israel will continue to act to implement this objective,” it added.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the only way to return Israel’s northern residents to their homes was through “military action”, during a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe possibility for an agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to \u2018tie itself\u2019 to Hamas, and refuses to end the conflict,\u201d a statement from his office said.<\/p>\n

“Therefore, the only way left to ensure the return of Israel\u2019s northern communities to their homes, will be via military action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gallant’s comments came as speculation grew that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to replace him amid differences between the two men over the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned of the devastating consequences of further escalation.<\/p>\n

In a statement from the US defence department, his office said he “reaffirmed the necessity of a ceasefire and hostage deal, and that Israel should give diplomatic negotiations time to succeed, noting the devastating consequences that escalation would have on the people of Israel, Lebanon, and the broader region.”<\/p>\n

Israel has repeatedly warned it could launch a military operation to drive Hezbollah away from the border.<\/p>\n

Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim organisation which is politically influential and in control of the most powerful armed force in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The group has so far made no public comments on the issue.<\/p>\n

The latest Israeli move marks an expansion of the country’s previously stated war goals: <\/p>\n

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