Israel To Continue Attacking Lebanon Outside Ceasefire For Love Of The Game

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

The Israeli government has confirmed it will continue its military operations in Lebanon following last night's historic US-Iran ceasefire agreement, clarifying that the two situations are completely unrelated and that Lebanon is more of a personal thing.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government welcomed the ceasefire as a positive step toward regional peace, before adding that this would have no bearing whatsoever on what Israel does in Lebanon, which it described as "ongoing" and "not something we're looking to symbolically abandon back anytime soon."

"The ceasefire is between the United States, Israel and Iran," the spokesperson said.

"Lebanon is something we do because we love doing it. Israel loves an incursion into Lebanon every decade or so. We enjoy the game of attacking Israel, as Hezbollah enjoys the game of shooting rockets into Israel."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated the historic agreement, had urged all parties in the region to observe the ceasefire, a request Israel acknowledged receiving.

"We got that, yes," the spokesperson confirmed.

Netanyahu, who denied Lebanon was covered under any ceasefire arrangement shortly after the deal was announced, said Israel had met and exceeded all military objectives in Iran, and was now free to focus its attention on what he called "the stuff we just genuinely enjoy."

The Israeli government stressed that operations in Lebanon would continue indefinitely, or until further notice, whichever comes later.

At time of publication, Lebanon had not been consulted.

More to come.