BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 19. Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued an incendiary statement calling for harsh retaliation against Lebanon following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
TurkicWorld reports that in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Smotrich described the situation as a “tough morning” and said, “Time to speak with fire. To open the gates of hell,” signaling support for aggressive military action.
The remarks follow a night of intense fighting in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been engaging Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure, heightening tensions along the border.
Observers note that statements from senior Israeli officials advocating extreme measures could escalate the conflict further and complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the US-Iran agreement and broader de-escalation initiatives in the region.
