Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening with Defense Minister Katz and the Deputy Chief of Staff. Netanyahu told troops to engage any identified threat immediately, and said Israel will stay deployed in the buffer zone as long as Hezbollah remains a threat. He framed the recent framework agreement with Lebanon as a message that both Iran and Hezbollah have no place in the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Israeli security buffer zone in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Deputy Chief of Staff. Netanyahu instructed troops to engage any identified threat immediately, saying: 'If you identify a threat to your security, to your lives, to your soldiers — act. Don't wait. Act — that is an iron directive.' He reiterated that Israel will remain deployed in the buffer zone as long as Hezbollah poses a threat.
The visit, first reported by The Zioneer at 16:08 Jerusalem, initially emerged as an unannounced trip via Israeli reports; by 17:12, The Zioneer had reported Netanyahu telling troops that Hezbollah's rocket arsenal has been reduced to 8% and that 9,000 operatives have been killed. A subsequent bulletin at 18:08 Jerusalem confirmed Defense Minister Katz's participation and Netanyahu's operational directive to engage threats. The current visit adds the signing of the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon earlier Tuesday as a fresh diplomatic backdrop.
Netanyahu framed the Lebanon agreement as a message to both Iran and Hezbollah: 'Lebanon recognizes Israel, Israel recognizes Lebanon, and says to both Iran and Hezbollah — go away, you have nothing to do here.' He added that the two sovereign states want peace and to restore security and prosperity to residents of the north and of Lebanon. The Zioneer previously reported on Jun 27 that Netanyahu framed the agreement as a strategic defeat for Tehran, and on Jun 26 that he detailed the security-zone framework while warning Iran against attack.
No new casualty or operational figures were provided during this visit. The operational directive to engage threats without waiting for approval was emphasized as standing policy.
8 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: IDF to stay in southern Lebanon as long as needed; 300 Hezbollah targets struck in two days
- ConfirmedNetanyahu details Lebanon security-zone framework; warns Iran against attack
- StrongNetanyahu to Hezbollah and Iran from Lebanon: 'If you see a threat — act'
- DevelopingNetanyahu: I ordered the IDF to strike 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake