Katz says IDF faces no limits on neutralizing threats in Lebanon

Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that the IDF continues operating in southern Lebanon under the ceasefire, after the severe escalation over the weekend and amid what he described as Iranian pressure on the United States to force Israel to stop its strikes.

Katz said there has been, and still is, no restriction on Israeli soldiers in Lebanon when it comes to removing threats. “There was no and there is no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon to act to remove threats,” he said.

He added that after Israeli forces were hit, the IDF responded “with great force,” killed a very large number of Hezbollah militants, and damaged many terror infrastructure sites. Katz said protecting soldiers and civilians is the top and absolute priority.

According to Katz, all of the IDF’s gains in the Lebanon campaign are being preserved. He said Israeli forces remain deployed in the security zone along the yellow line in Lebanon and are operating from there inward against militants and terror infrastructure. He also said the ceasefire announced on Saturday keeps the IDF in all positions in the security zone protecting northern Israeli communities, and that Israel will not withdraw from that area, as he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have made clear.