Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Israel should annex Lebanon at least up to the lines where its forces are currently positioned, escalating his remarks with conditional territorial demands tied to potential future Hezbollah aggression.

Smotrich's statement on Lebanon annexation

Smotrich outlined a tiered position on Lebanese territory. According to his statement, Israel should annex Lebanon up to its current troop lines as a baseline. He further stated that if Hezbollah attacks again, Israel should extend annexation all the way to Beirut, and if attacks continue beyond that point, annexation should extend even further.

The remarks represent a significant escalation in rhetoric from a senior Israeli cabinet official. The statement directly links territorial expansion to the actions of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.

Key points from Smotrich's remarks

The following summarises the positions outlined by Smotrich:

• Israel should annex Lebanon at least up to the lines where its forces are positioned today
• If Hezbollah attacks again, annexation should extend all the way to Beirut
• If Hezbollah attacks beyond that, annexation should extend even further than Beirut