Israel’s Defense Minister Gallant says his country is ‘not looking for war’ with Hezbollah BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Saturday that the Lebanese army is “the protector and guardian of the nation.” He assured the army that it has the full support of the government, adding: “I know that you are going through so many difficulties, but, God willing, they will pass.” Mikati was visiting southern Lebanon for the first time since the beginning of hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on Oct. 8. The prime minister visited the South Litani Sector army base at the Benoit Barakat barracks in Tyre, where he met with the sector’s commander, Brig. Gen. Edgard Lawandos, and other officials. “The Israeli threats we are facing are a form of psychological warfare,” Mikati said in a statement after his visit. “Everyone is asking whether or not there will be a war. Yes, we are in a state of war, and there is a large number of martyrs, including civilians and non-civilians, in addition to many destroyed villages, due to the Israeli aggression.” FASTFACT The Gaza war has led to soaring tensions on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an ‘obliterating’ war if Israel attacked Lebanon. Mikati’s visit to the south coincided with the start of official exams in Lebanon. He and Education Minister Abbas Halabi visited official exam centers in Tyre. Among those sitting their exams are students who have fled with their families from border villages. Mikati said: “Would (we have the) ability to carry out exams in the south without the army’s presence?” The prime minister’s visit comes at a time when Israel is threatening to expand the war in Lebanon while countries in the region and beyond are cautioning against escalation. “The psychological warfare is escalating, but, hopefully, our country will overcome this phase and will have permanent stability on the border thanks to your courage, bravery, and sacrifice,” Mikati told the troops. According to the latest update from the National Early Warning System Platform, which is managed by the National Council for Scientific Research, one Lebanese soldier has been killed and five wounded in Israeli attacks. Hezbollah lost 372 fighters, while 124 civilians have been killed and 355 injured. The total area burned by internationally prohibited phosphorous bombs fired by the Israeli army as of June 13 is 1,698 hectares, according to the update. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during his visit to Israeli forces near the northern border with Lebanon on Saturday that “Israel isn’t looking for war with Hezbollah.” But, he added, “The Israeli army is ready for war.” Gallant continued: “This has always been the best choice, and we are not looking for war, but we are ready for it. If Hezbollah chooses war, we know what to do. If they choose peace, we will respond appropriately.” Gallant’s remarks came while Israeli hostilities continued. A military drone targeted a motorcycle on the road between Houla and Mays Al-Jabal, killing its driver, while another raid targeted forests between Habbariyeh and Kfarshouba. Israeli artillery also bombed areas between Dahira and Alma Al-Shaab. Lebanese Forces MP Ghada Ayoub praised Mikati’s visit to the south. Ayoub said: “Welcome Prime Minister Najib Mikati to southern Lebanon, even if your visit is late.” She said his visit showed that there “is no actual sovereignty without the protection of the Lebanese army and that the only legitimacy is for the Lebanese army.” She added: “There’s also no stability and safety unless the Lebanese army takes over all Lebanese borders under the Taif Agreement, the Lebanese constitution, and the relevant international resolutions.” Ayoub said that Mikati’s statement regarding the army is “a response to those who doubt the Lebanese army’s strength and readiness.” The Lebanese-American Coordinating Committee said in a statement: “The escalating fears of an expansion of the war find their roots in the lack of a sustainable solution to the outstanding border issues between Lebanon and Israel, which continues to occupy Lebanese territories, in addition to the failure to implement the provisions of Resolution 1701, which has been widely violated since 2006.” It added: “This necessitates pushing toward a full operational commitment to its stipulations, as well as its annexes in Resolution 2650, which all members of the UN Security Council approved.” The committee pointed out its “continuous communication with the US administration,” and called for intensified diplomatic efforts. It also stated that Resolution 1701 is closely linked to Resolutions 1680 and 1559, all of which stem from “the spirit of the Lebanese constitution and the Taif Agreement affirming the Lebanese state’s right to exercise exclusive sovereignty over all its territories.” The statement added: “This requires the Lebanese authorities to adhere to the constitution and international resolutions and to empower the legitimate armed forces with the necessary equipment and personnel to perform their duties in this context in coordination with UNIFIL forces, while simultaneously initiating a process to neutralize Lebanon from regional and international conflicts.”