Israel Won't Leave Lebanon Until Hezbollah Disarmed, Defense Minister Says

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that the capture of the Ali Taher ridge marks the completion of Israel's control over the security zone in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that Israel will not withdraw from this zone until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon.

Katz explained that the operation to capture the ridge, located in a strategic area overlooking the eastern Galilee, was initiated following intelligence about Hezbollah command and control tunnels present there. These tunnels, he stated, served as a central command for attacks on Israeli forces and the Galilee region, and also as a key defensive position for Hezbollah overlooking the important Nabatieh area.

He praised the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their difficult operations on the ridge, commending their commitment and the bravery of the soldiers. Katz noted that the operation was kept under heavy security lockdown to protect the forces involved. The mission, he said, involved systematically clearing the tunnels of militants and neutralizing them, with the IDF now preparing to secure the ridge tactically to prevent any enemy resurgence.

Katz reiterated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintain a firm stance: Israel will not retreat from the Lebanese security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed across Lebanon and the threats to the residents of the Galilee are removed. He described the capture of Ali Taher as a significant step towards achieving this objective.