Israeli minister says military operation needed for Lebanese border

A potential larger war between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah may be approaching, according to remarks made by the Israeli government on Monday.

The possibility for an agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to “tie itself” to the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, and refuses to end the conflict, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said at a meeting with US mediator Amos Hochstein.

"Therefore, the only way left to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes will be via military action," he said.

His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Hochstein, "It will not be possible to return our residents without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north."

They were discussing the efforts to change the security situation on Israel's northern border with Lebanon and ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes, after the violence in the area between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.

Hochstein has been working for months to de-escalate the highly dangerous situation at the border, where tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.

Hochstein warned senior Israel's top politicians of dangerous consequences of a larger war which could further spread to the region, according to the Israeli TV channel N12.

Netanyahu said that while Israel appreciates and respects the support of the US, it would ultimately "do what is necessary to safeguard its security and return the residents of the north securely to their homes."