Israel faces a new war after Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib issued a stunning threat towards his nation’s Middle Eastern rivals, warning “we really are approaching a regional war”.
Tension between Lebanon and Israel has stoked up in recent days after it emerged senior Hamas figure Saleh al-Arouri had been assassinated in the nation’s capital of Beirut.
While Israel did not claim the incident as one of its own, a spokesman for the country’s army said the attack was a “surgical strike against the Hamas leadership”.
It saw Hamas’s biggest supporter Hezbollah – the largest political and military force in Lebanon and like its counterpart considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK and others – also wade into the dispute.
And now Bou Habib issued his own warning to Israel by saying he was “afraid that we are really approaching a regional war”.
Speaking to CNN, the politician continued: “I hope and pray that there wouldn’t be any response [by Hezbollah]… Regional war is bad for everybody.”
It came as Israel released a horrifying piece of footage that shows Hamas “indoctrinates children into terrorism”.
During the clip, which was shared online by Yaari Cohen – an employee at the Political Director’s Office of the Israel Foreign Ministry, youngsters are shown being armed and told how equipment works.
The children are then shown being taken down numerous tunnels, which have routinely been used by Hamas to enter Israel and its surrounding areas.
Sharing the clip, Mr Cohen said: “Breaking – The IDF just revealed to the international media how Hamas indoctrinates children into terrorism.
“Footage shows children being instructed by Hamas terrorists in a demonstration of a terror tunnel at a Hamas training camp.”
Mr Cohen followed up the video by describing how those children pictured had been taught “from a young age” to “hate Israel”.
He continued: “In schools, youth movements, and summer camps, children undergo theoretical and practical military training.
“During normal times, Hamas runs summer camps where children learn to shoot weapons, attack from tunnels, fight against tanks, and even kidnap soldiers. These camps serve as early stages of military training. According to intelligence, a large number of minors are active in terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
“Even during wars, the terrorist organisation Hamas uses minors for various tasks, such as sending children to deliver messages and transport ammunition.”
