‘No One Tells Us What to Do’: Israel’s Katz Defies Criticism as Strikes Hit Lebanon's Baalbek

JERUSALEM, Jun 19: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would respond "immediately and with force" to any Iranian attack, insisting that "no one can tell us what to do" amid growing tensions with Washington over a recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending regional hostilities.

In remarks to Israeli media, Katz said Israel would continue acting independently against threats from Iran and its allies, adding that the country would not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria or Gaza under any circumstances. His comments came days after Israeli officials criticized the US-Iran agreement, which includes provisions aimed at ending fighting across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a new wave of strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. An airstrike near the eastern city of Baalbek wounded five people, while additional attacks targeted areas including Touline, Borj Qallaway, Jabal al-Rafih and parts of the Litani River basin and Tyre region.

The latest attacks followed a series of Israeli strikes earlier Friday that reportedly killed 28 people and wounded several others, marking the deadliest escalation since the US-Iran agreement was signed. Lebanese authorities say Israel's military campaign since March has killed 3,912 people, injured 11,873 and displaced more than one million residents.

The renewed violence comes as diplomatic efforts to implement the US-Iran ceasefire framework face mounting challenges, with sharp disagreements emerging between Washington and Israeli leaders over the future of regional security arrangements.