New Delhi: In a video message released on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the people of Lebanon that they could face “destruction and suffering” like the Palestinians in Gaza if they don’t “free” their country from Hezbollah. “You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long […]

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanon Tuesday (Oct 8) it could face destruction "like Gaza" as Israel ramps up its ground offensive against Hezbollah along

Since 23 September, more than 1,110 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million have had to flee their homes.

Benjamin Netanyahu's appeal came as Israel expanded its ground invasion against Hezbollah.

Deploys more troops, urges civilians living near the Mediterranean to evacuate

Israel's prime minister has made a direct appeal to urge the Lebanese people to throw out Hezbollah and avoid "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza". Benjamin Netanyahu's appeal on Tuesday came as Israel expanded its ground invasion against Hezbollah by sending thousands more troops into a new zone in south-west Lebanon. Netanyahu also claimed the Israel Defense Forces had killed the successor to Hezbollah's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, but the IDF later said it could not confirm Hashem Safieddine's death. Elsewhere, Hezbollah's fighters launched barrages of rockets towards the Israeli port city of Haifa for the third consecutive day, injuring 12 people. During a video address directed at the people of Lebanon, Netanyahu said: "You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. "I say to you, the people of Lebanon: Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end." Hezbollah has remained defiant…