Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and anonymous officials issuing repeated denials of reports that the government ordered the IDF to avoid striking Beirut, the Kan public broadcaster says such an order was indeed issued on Friday, without informing security cabinet members.
Israel has not struck the Lebanese capital in the last four days, and Kan says Netanyahu has demanded that any potential strike on Beirut be brought to him for his personal approval beforehand.
This reportedly happened after US President Joe Biden demanded in a call with Netanyahu last Wednesday that the IDF stop striking in “heavily populated areas.”
Kan says cabinet members have been left in the dark about this order and learned about it from the press reports, adding that some have said they will demand an explanation if Israel continues to avoid striking Beirut, which houses the Dahiyeh neighborhood that serves as Hezbollah’s main headquarters.
Netanyahu said today that Israel maintains freedom of operating throughout Lebanon and will strike anywhere needed, including Beirut, echoing denials issued earlier in the name of an anonymous senior Israeli official.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 14, 2024
