Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir entered southern Lebanon on Sunday and held an operational assessment there with Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, 91st Division commander Brig. Gen. Yuval Gaz, maneuver brigade commanders, and other officers. The military said Zamir praised the troops for their “steadfastness,” operational achievements, and conduct in the fighting.
Zamir said Israel is paying a “heavy price” defending the country and expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of “Dabash” and his team. He said he had come “on behalf of the IDF and the entire people” to thank the forces, adding that Israel remains in a multi-front war against Hezbollah and that its mission is to protect northern communities and Israeli civilians.
His remarks came after criticism in the Israeli media last week over the seizure of northern Lebanese ridges, with claims that the move was not necessary for Israel’s security. Zamir pushed back, saying operations in the Ali Tahar and Beaufort areas also serve that purpose. He said one of the central lessons of October 7 is that Israel will not allow “a security reality” in which radical terrorist groups entrench themselves on its borders.
Zamir said Hezbollah has been dealt a “severe and deep blow” and that the IDF must stay ready to continue action and prevent the group from rebuilding. He said the army has foiled a significant mid-level command structure in the Bader units and other formations in the past two days, and described Ali Tahar and Beaufort as a major focus of Northern Command because of a subterranean fortress Hezbollah built there over 20 years. He also warned that the American-Iranian ceasefire is fragile and that the IDF must remain at high readiness for renewed fighting and a rapid switch to offense if needed.
