Diplos in Lebanon short on time: Isr.

A member of Israel’s war cabinet warned on Wednesday that the diplomatic “hourglass” was running out for Lebanon as the nation has failed to stop Hezbollah from firing rockets across the border.

Israeli minister Benny Gantz admonished the barrage at the northern border, which has raised fears of a second front in the war.

“The hourglass for a political settlement is running out,” Gantz told reporters. “If the world and Lebanon’s government will not work to stop the shooting at Israel and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will do so.”

Hezbollah, a terrorist group that holds a strong grip over southern Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel a day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

At least 11 Israelis, including four civilians, have been killed by the strikes.

Israeli counterstrikes have killed about 150 Lebanese people, mostly Hezbollah terrorists and 17 civilians. Thousands of civilians have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Hezbollah on Wednesday launched its most expansive assault yet, firing more rockets and drone strikes at Israel than in any other day since Oct. 7.

For weeks, Israeli officials have been working diplomatic channels to have Hezbollah removed from the border. Officials from the US and France have been dispatched to Beirut to assuage the tense standoff — but have not had success.

IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi, echoed Gantz’s position this week, saying troops were on “very high readiness.”

“Our first task is to restore security . . . to the residents in the north, and this will take time,” he said.