Israel seeks more Hezbollah penalties

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister on Thursday asked the international community to impose additional sanctions on Hezbollah and condemn the Lebanese militant group in response to the discovery of tunnels stretching from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.

Stepping up an international pressure campaign against Hezbollah, Israel also hosted the commander of a U.N. peacekeeping force, showing him one of the tunnels and urging the force to take action across the border.

The Israeli military this week began an open-ended operation meant to expose and thwart what it says are tunnels built by the Lebanese militant group aimed at infiltrating Israel. The two sides are bitter enemies and fought an inconclusive monthlong war in 2006.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, toured the operation’s area Thursday with some foreign ambassadors.

“I told the ambassadors that they need to unequivocally condemn this aggression against us by Iran, by Hezbollah and by Hamas, and of course, to also strengthen the sanctions against these elements,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also said he will demand the U.N. Security Council discuss the matter.

In New York, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col, commander of the U.N.’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, confirmed the existence of the tunnel during an inspection and promised to pursue “urgent follow-up action.” He also said the U.N. force will share its findings with the “appropriate authorities” in Lebanon.