Netanyahu Visits Southern Lebanon, Vows Israel Will Stay as Long as Hezbollah Threatens

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the security zone in southern Lebanon on Tuesday alongside Defense Minister Yoav Kach and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Tamir Yadai. They were accompanied by National Security Advisor Samuel Ben-Shmuel and his military secretary, Major General Guy Markizano. During the visit, Netanyahu and Kach received detailed briefings from Northern Command Chief Major General Rafi Milo, the commander of Division 91, and local brigade commanders. They were also shown demonstrations of advanced ammunition and weapons designed to counter drone threats.

Addressing the troops, Netanyahu praised their efforts in significantly degrading the Iranian axis, particularly Hezbollah’s military capabilities in Lebanon. He noted that Hezbollah’s arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles has been reduced to about 8 percent of its original size. Netanyahu highlighted that Israeli forces have eliminated approximately 9,000 militants recently and have created buffer zones on the enemy side of the border to prevent terrorist forces from positioning themselves near Israel.

Netanyahu emphasized the strategic shift in Israeli defense policy, focusing on proactive measures to destroy above-ground and underground threats such as tunnels and terrorist villages. He instructed soldiers to act decisively if they identify threats to their security. Netanyahu asserted that Israel and Lebanon recognize each other as sovereign states and called on Iran and Hezbollah to leave the area, stating that Israel will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah poses a threat.

The visit underscores Israel’s ongoing commitment to maintaining security in the northern border region and its determination to prevent Hezbollah from rearming or threatening Israeli citizens. Netanyahu concluded by expressing pride in the military’s achievements and reaffirmed Israel’s resolve to stay in southern Lebanon until the threat is neutralized.