Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for Israel to “reoccupy southern Lebanon” and for “a war that will destroy Hezbollah”, Al Jazeera reports.

The ultra-nationalist minister and leader of the National Religious Party-Religious Zionism, said that “the people of Israel are ready for this”.

“There is no way to restore security to the residents of the north without a war that will destroy Hezbollah,” he said in a post on social media.

As well as reoccupying southern Lebanon, Israel must create “a security strip” within Lebanese territory, he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Urban flooding
Updated 02 Aug, 2026

Urban flooding

THE warning from the disaster management and weather authorities that a new monsoon spell could trigger urban...
Fatal workplaces
02 Aug, 2026

Fatal workplaces

THE methane explosion near Quetta that killed 34 coal miners is the latest entry in Pakistan’s long register of...
Dual standards
02 Aug, 2026

Dual standards

IT appears that the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has fallen foul of the Election Commission of Pakistan. A...
Maritime alliance
Updated 01 Aug, 2026

Maritime alliance

AS the US-Iran war drags on, new battle lines are being drawn. The pro-US Gulf Arab monarchies and Iran have enjoyed...
Local governance
01 Aug, 2026

Local governance

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech at a business summit on Thursday has stirred a hornet’s nest. His...
Murders in Balochistan
01 Aug, 2026

Murders in Balochistan

GOOD news is scarce in Balochistan. Seven labourers were abducted and gunned down in Turbat city recently. Four...