New Delhi, Sep 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that terrorism has no place in the world.
Pm Modi on Monday spoke to Netanyahu on the conflict in the Middle East.
“Spoke to Prime Minister @netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia. Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability,” PM Modi posted on X.
The prime minister’s conversation with Netanyahu comes amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Israel has been relentlessly carrying out airstrikes on Lebanon, having already eliminated seven top-ranking officials of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The conflict in West Asia that had started with the abduction of Israeli citizens by Hamas in October last year, has been escalating.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have now expanded in scope. It struck back at Iran-backed Hezbollah, which attacked Israel and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have targetted Israel as well.
Israel has been carrying out airstrikes on Lebanon. It has also informed the US that it is planning a limited ground operation as well, the US daily Washington Post has reported.
On Saturday, the Israeli army said it had eliminated Hezbollah chief Nasrallah in the strike on the group’s central command headquarters in Beirut. The hardliners in Iran are now calling for drastic measures against Israel, including the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz and nuclear weapon development.
Netanyahu had responded, saying there was nowhere in the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut today.
According to a Washington Post report, Israel is planning a limited ground operation in Lebanon and has informed the United States.
According to an AP report, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told troops of the 188 Armored brigade and the Golani Infantry brigade on the northern border, “The elimination of Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not everything. We will use all the capabilities we have.”
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu made a remark directed at Iran saying there was nowhere in the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach.
Iran and Israel would be at peace when Iran is “finally free”, which Netanyahu said would “come a lot sooner than people think”
“There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country,” the Israeli prime minister was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem has said that the group’s fighters are ready for any ground invasion by Israel.
“We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement,” Reuters quoted Qassem as saying.
Hassan Nasrallah’s killing, along with the series of blows against the organization’s communications devices and the assassination of other senior commanders, constitute the biggest blow to Hezbollah since Iran created it in 1982 to fight Israel.
