Netanyahu Highlights Israeli Gains in Lebanon Conflict, Emphasizes Continued Presence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the official memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Second Lebanon War held at Mount Herzl. He opened by honoring the bereaved families and recalling the heroic act of Lt. Col. Roi Klein, who sacrificed himself to save his soldiers during battle. Netanyahu noted that Klein's son recently enlisted as a Golani Brigade fighter, continuing his father's legacy.

Addressing the ongoing northern campaign dubbed the "War of Reprisal," Netanyahu detailed significant achievements against Hezbollah, stating that Israeli forces have eliminated over 9,000 militants since the conflict began, including approximately 3,500 since the start of Operation Roaring Lion. He emphasized the destruction of the majority of Hezbollah's 150,000 missiles and rockets, the capture of the Bofor fortress, and the creation of a wide buffer zone. Netanyahu underscored a critical lesson: "The Gaza envelope is now inside Gaza. The Lebanon envelope is now inside Lebanon."

The prime minister also referenced a recent diplomatic breakthrough with Lebanon, brokered by the United States, which severs Lebanon's battlefield ties with Iran and acknowledges Israel's right to maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon as needed. Netanyahu concluded by reading a prayer from Keren Tendler, Israel's first female flight mechanic who was killed in the Second Lebanon War, asking for divine protection over the country and its fighters.