Beirut: Hezbollah stated on Saturday that the recent Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon reflects Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s desire to escalate the war to bolster his domestic political standing and serve his electoral goals.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, since dawn on Saturday, Israel has intensified its attacks on southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 19 others. This marks the largest escalation since Lebanon and Israel signed a “framework agreement” on June 26th, which stipulates a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the continuation of negotiations between the two sides.

Hezbollah said in a statement, “The Lebanese people awoke this morning (Saturday) to the sound of an aggressive escalation and a brutal massacre perpetrated by the criminal Zionist enemy against innocent civilians in the south.” The statement added, “This Israeli escalation, targeting civilians and expanding the scope of targeted areas, expresses the desire and will of the criminal enemy’s Prime Minister, Netanyahu, to escalate the war to strengthen his domestic political position, serve his electoral goals, and appease the extreme right wing.”

Hezbollah called on the Lebanese authorities to “explore all available means to stop this aggression and not insist on continuing down the path of humiliating direct negotiations and offering free gifts to the enemy.”

It added, “All Lebanese must realize the danger this government’s approach poses to Lebanon, its unity, security, and independence. The Israeli enemy must understand that its attacks, transgressions, and attempts to impose a fait accompli cannot continue and will be met with an appropriate response in defense of Lebanon, its people, its sovereignty, and its national dignity.”