Netanyahu tells Iran to 'get out' during southern Lebanon troops visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited IDF troops in the southern Lebanon security zone Tuesday and told Iran and Hezbollah to leave, according to his office. He praised the troops for securing a new US-brokered agreement with Beirut that he said will allow two sovereign states to restore security along the border.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday returned to the southern Lebanon security zone, where he praised a new US-brokered agreement with Beirut and demanded Iran and Hezbollah leave the area, according to his office. The visit follows a sequence of on-site engagements: on Tuesday evening Netanyahu visited IDF troops in the same zone and issued a "shoot to kill" order against any Hezbollah threat, as The Zioneer reported at 18:11 Jerusalem. In that same Tuesday visit, he also told the militia and Tehran to "get out of here" in a public ultimatum.

Netanyahu's remarks Wednesday — urging Tehran to "get out" — build on a broader thread. On Saturday, June 27, he first said the Lebanese government had, for the first time, told Iran and Hezbollah to leave (The Zioneer, 21:41 Jerusalem). That same evening, he characterized the security deal as a major setback for Iran and called for a broad coalition to counter Iranian influence (22:03 Jerusalem). Earlier, on June 10, he released a video to the Lebanese people stressing Israel was at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon.

The prime minister has consistently framed the deployment as a punch to the Iranian axis and has vowed that Israel will not withdraw so long as Hezbollah remains armed. As The Zioneer reported on Wednesday, June 24, Netanyahu said Israel is establishing a buffer zone in southern Lebanon and will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

No operational details or specific troop positions during Wednesday's visit were released. The extent of any change in Hezbollah's disposition on the ground since the latest ultimatum remains unverified.

5 developments

1. 6 minutes ago · 14:29 · 1 JulLatest

   Netanyahu states Hezbollah retains only 8% of its pre-war rocket arsenal.

2. 11:49 · 1 Jul

   Netanyahu praised the US-brokered agreement and called for Iran to leave Lebanon.

3. 22:46 · 30 Jun

   Netanyahu reports Hezbollah arsenal reduced to 8% and 9,000 operatives eliminated.

• Developing21:15 · 15 JunNetanyahu: Hezbollah left with 8% of its pre-war 150,000 rockets and missiles
• Confirmed4 days ago · 22:52 · 27 JunNetanyahu details Lebanon security-zone framework; warns Iran against attack
• Developing13:36 · 19 JunNetanyahu acknowledges Israel's operational constraints in southern Lebanon
• Strong17:15 · 16 JunNetanyahu tells Trump southern Lebanon strikes 'light casualties' so far, expects Hezbollah to hold fire

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