Netanyahu says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon buffer zone as needed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone in southern Lebanon as long as it is needed to protect northern communities, following a severe Hezbollah attack that killed the commander of Armored Battalion 52, Lt. Col. Dor Gadalia Ben Shimon, and three other soldiers whose names have not yet been released.

Netanyahu opened his remarks by expressing condolences to the families of those killed and wishing a full recovery to the wounded in the exchange of fire. He said Hezbollah had carried out a “blatant violation of the ceasefire” and that he had ordered the IDF last night to strike the organization with force.

According to Netanyahu, the IDF hit more than 80 terror targets, killed dozens of militants, and this morning struck Hezbollah command centers in the Bekaa. He said he held a situational assessment this morning with the defense minister and the chief of staff.

“My instruction is clear,” Netanyahu said. “Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or on our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks.” He added that the IDF would continue working to prevent any threat to Israeli forces or Israeli territory. He closed by reiterating that Israel would remain in the southern Lebanon security zone “as long as necessary” to defend northern towns.