Netanyahu at brother's memorial: We will remain in Lebanon buffer zone as long as needed

At a ceremony marking 50 years since Operation Entebbe, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security buffer 'as long as necessary.' Referring to Operations 'Rising Lion' and 'Roaring Lion,' he said: 'We achieved tremendous gains and we will not give them up.'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday evening at the annual memorial ceremony for his brother, Yoni Netanyahu, marking 50 years since the 1976 Operation Entebbe raid in which Yoni was killed. The prime minister used the occasion to reiterate his administration's core security doctrine on two fronts: the IDF's presence in the southern Lebanon security buffer and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

'In the past year we launched Operations 'Rising Lion' and 'Roaring Lion' to remove an immediate threat of annihilation,' Netanyahu said, according to official government pool photos (Roee Avraham / GPO). 'We achieved tremendous gains and we will not give them up.'

The remarks follow a series of similar statements over the past fortnight. As The Zioneer reported on June 18, Netanyahu told IDF troops he would keep forces in the buffer zone 'as long as security needs require it' after the military struck 300 Hezbollah targets in two days. The prime minister's position remains firm despite reported pressure from Washington to de-escalate along the Lebanon border.

No new operational or diplomatic developments were announced alongside the memorial speech. The buffer zone — a strip of territory several kilometers deep inside Lebanon — has been held by Israel since the start of the current campaign against Hezbollah late last year.

4 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 18:37 · 21 JunLatest

   Remarks delivered at the annual memorial service for his brother, Yoni Netanyahu.

2. 18:20 · 21 Jun

   Netanyahu vowed that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons under his leadership.

3. 18:18 · 21 Jun

   Netanyahu cited Operations 'Rising Lion' and 'Roaring Lion' as tremendous gains.

• Strong6 days ago · 22:33 · 15 JunNetanyahu: Iran will not get nuclear weapons — with or without a deal
• Confirmed6 days ago · 21:09 · 15 JunNetanyahu: Israel will stay in security buffer zones as long as needed to defend itself
• Strongyesterday · 20:09 · 20 JunNetanyahu: Israel will maintain security presence in southern Lebanon 'as long as needed'
• Developing3 days ago · 10:17 · 18 JunNetanyahu tells Trump Israel won't withdraw from Lebanon, abandon north

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