Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today that his country has received approval from the United States to bomb the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, in case the pro-Iranian organization attacks Israeli territory, according to a statement from his office.
Read: Lebanon: Six killed in Israeli strike – Parliament Speaker guarantees Hezbollah ceasefire
Katz: We received US approval to bomb southern Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah attacks us
“The Prime Minister and I, together with the Israeli army, are working to link the fate of Dahiya (the southern suburbs of Beirut) with that of the northern Israeli settlements. If Israeli settlements continue to be attacked, we will evacuate and bomb the Shiite neighborhood of Dahiya in Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold,” Katz emphasized. “The US approved this principle and conveyed it to the Lebanese government and all involved parties (…) Either the bombing of cities stops, or, if it continues, we will strike Dahiya in Beirut,” the minister continued.
🚨 Israel Defense Minister Katz reiterates the equation announced last night against Hezbollah: If there is firing towards Israeli cities, the Dahieh district in Beirut will be evacuated and attacked with force. This equation was conveyed yesterday to the US. If there is firing… https://t.co/MuUVOtozLb pic.twitter.com/rk0SyZ2Ekv
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 2, 2026
Netanyahu: The foundations of the Iranian regime have cracked and it is doomed to collapse
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “the foundations” of the Iranian regime “have cracked” and that “it is doomed to collapse,” in comments released by his office from a speech he gave last night at the farewell ceremony for outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea. “The price that Iran has already paid is very heavy. The foundations of this terrorist regime in Iran have cracked. It will never return to what it once was, and I tell you – it is doomed to collapse,” Netanyahu stated. “Let every enemy planning evil against Israel know that their plans will fail. The price they will pay will be extremely heavy,” he warned, after appearing to back down from a planned attack on Hezbollah targets in Beirut yesterday, following intervention by US President Donald Trump.
Addressing Barnea, Netanyahu told him that “great things were achieved during your tenure,” saying that his five years as Mossad chief were “among the most fateful in our history.” “I thank you for your 30 years of dedicated service to Mossad and I especially thank you for the recent years, which brought significant successes and remarkable achievements for Israel’s security,” he said. Netanyahu’s outgoing military secretary, Brigadier General Roman Gofman, is set to assume his duties as Mossad chief today.
