Israel’s national security minister spurns call for truce: ‘All of Lebanon must burn.’ Iran closes Strait of Hormuz
A far-right member of Israel’s governing coalition on Friday said that “all of Lebanon must burn,” as fighting broke out between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah despite a ceasefire imposed by the U.S. and Iran.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and head of the far-right Jewish Power party, posted on the social platform X that Israel must respond with overwhelming force to the death of Israeli soldiers killed in fighting overnight. President Trump has publicly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint even when retaliating against attacks from Hezbollah.
“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit,” Ben-Gvir posted.
“All of Lebanon must burn. Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration,” he continued, using the abbreviation for the Israeli military.
Ben-Gvir is a fringe member of Netanyahu’s coalition but wields influence in the relatively small majority. He was at the forefront of a movement that in March succeeded in passing legislation imposing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis. Ben-Gvir holds multiple convictions related to support for a terrorist organization and was condemned by the Biden administration for “inflammatory and irresponsible” rhetoric against Palestinians. [Continue reading…]
Iran said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, citing ceasefire violations after Israel continued deadly strikes in southern Lebanon overnight.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned ships not to approach the waterway, which Iran had committed to reopening under the interim peace deal signed this week. It said in a statement that vessels’ safety would be at risk if they did so.
Iran’s top joint military command said the closure was the “first step” in response to what were described as breaches of commitments by the U.S. and Israel, according to Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency.
In a social media post Saturday, President Donald Trump threatened to impose U.S tolls in the waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached within 60 days. The current agreement establishes toll-free travel through the strait for 60 days.
Trump did not address Iran’s assertion that the strait is currently closed. [Continue reading…]