Netanyahu Urges Lebanese To Join Israel, Reject Hezbollah And Iran Amid Strikes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese people to “join Israel” in peace and reject Iran and Hezbollah, saying “Israel is not at war with you,” while declaring that Israel is only looking to oust the Iran-backed terror group with its military operations in the country.

“Video — Herzog in a message in Arabic to the people and leadership of Lebanon: We extend our hands to peace Lebanon — June 10, 2026 | 2:43 PM Video — Herzog in a message in Arabic to the people and leadership of Lebanon: We extend our hands to peace The Israeli president: I have a dream of traveling to Beirut, and that dream is still alive Al-Nahar Share on Share on”

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Netanyahu’s message came as Israel continued its strikes in southern Lebanon, which Lebanese security sources said killed at least 13 people throughout the day, and the IDF said the strikes targeted Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure.

Al-Nahar

Netanyahu warned that “They will sacrifice as many of you as possible to achieve their sick aims,” adding “seize your future. Join Israel… once Hezbollah is dismantled,” as he framed Hezbollah as the obstacle to peace.

The appeals by Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog signaled what The Times of Israel described as increasingly open communication between Israel and Lebanon amid ongoing US-hosted direct talks between the two countries, though a long-term agreement has proved difficult to reach.

President Isaac Herzog told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to “fight” for a country free of Hezbollah and Iran, saying “Israel cannot accept any attacks on our citizens, any attacks crossing our borders… We have the full right to defend ourselves.”

Herzog also said “There is no greater dream than for Israelis to be able to get in a car and drive to Beirut; it depends only on you,” urging Lebanon to “Denounce Hezbollah from among you, remove Iran and its proxies.”

BFM

In a separate video message, Herzog told Lebanon’s leadership and people that “It was Hezbollah who violated the [UN] Security Council resolution of 2006” and “It was Hezbollah who violated the ceasefire agreement of 2024.”

Lebanon’s response, as described by The Jerusalem Post, came from Aoun’s CNN interview in which he said his people are “fed up” with the war between Hezbollah and Israel and that “They deserve not seeing their homes destroyed every five to 10 years,” calling the conflict “futile.”

The Times of Israel reported that Iran continues to insist that a truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon must be part of any ceasefire deal with the US, while the Lebanese Armed Forces appear unable to keep Hezbollah in check.

“Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday urged European countries to 'support any effort to eradicate' the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, while welcoming France's mediation offer between his country and Lebanon”

Courrier international

Le Monde described Hezbollah as seeing the latest round of conflict as a chance for political resurgence, saying that on the night of June 7 “the Islamic Republic of Iran fired 11 ballistic missiles at northern Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut.”

Le Monde quoted Kassem Kassir, a political analyst with close ties to Hezbollah, saying, “This war will have consequences for Hezbollah, on both the military and political levels,” as it argued Tehran’s intervention reasserted its control over Lebanon’s future.

Against that backdrop, Courrier international reported that Herzog urged Europe to “support any effort (...) to eradicate Hezbollah, now,” while also welcoming France’s mediation offer for direct discussions between Lebanon and Israel, framing the moment as “a historic turning point.”