US senator urges military action if Hamas, Hezbollah remain armed

WARNING OVER HEZBOLLAH

Graham extended his warning to Hezbollah, saying military action should also be considered if the Iran-backed group refuses to give up its heavy weapons.

“If Hezbollah refuses to give up their heavy weapons, down the road we should engage in military operations working with Lebanon, Israel and the United States,” he said, suggesting joint action with Israel.

A separate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November 2024 after more than a year of cross-border hostilities, though Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have continued. The Lebanese government says it has begun disarming Hezbollah in the south, a claim Israel has questioned, while the group itself has repeatedly rejected calls to lay down its arms.

TURKEY ROLE REJECTED

Graham also voiced strong opposition to Turkey’s involvement in any international stabilisation force in Gaza, saying it would be unacceptable to Israel.

“There is no political support anywhere in Israel for having Turkey involved in the stabilising force,” he said, warning it would “rock Israel to its core”.

His remarks came a day after the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey urged restraint and called on all sides to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, as mediators push for progress toward the second phase of the deal.

Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of continued ceasefire violations. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported Israeli artillery shelling in parts of southern Khan Yunis on Sunday, while earlier strikes this week reportedly killed civilians sheltering in a school.