Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon have requested annexation by Israel, arguing that Israel would protect them from Hezbollah militants. Netanyahu made the remarks on Fox News, describing the alleged request as a safeguard for Christian communities.

Lebanon’s Christian communities and at least one local official pushed back against the claim. The mayor of the Christian village of Rmeish, Hanna al-Amil, publicly denied Netanyahu’s statement, contradicting the idea that the village sought to join Israel. Netanyahu did not name any specific villages when making the allegation.

The dispute comes as Israeli forces occupy areas in southern Lebanon amid the broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel.