Israeli Defense Minister Katz: "If Hezbollah joins an Iranian attack on Israel, it will be dealt a severe blow."
He said the IDF is ready to push into more territory near Nabatieh and the Litani, ground that would be emptied of residents and folded permanently into Israel's
Assessment
Israel's defense minister is drawing a direct line between any Hezbollah participation in an Iranian strike and a devastating Israeli response. The threat is not abstract: Katz explicitly describes plans to seize and permanently annex Lebanese territory near Nabatieh and the Litani River. This signals that Israel views a two-front escalation as an opportunity to redraw borders, not just retaliate. Watch whether Hezbollah's leadership treats this as credible deterrence or as a challenge that demands a response.