Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Monday that IDF troops in southern Lebanon retain unrestricted operational freedom to counter any direct or emerging threat, pushing back against constraints implied by the newly-announced 'friction prevention mechanism.' In a separate message, Netanyahu stressed he is 'firm that we remain in the security strip in southern Lebanon as long as needed' to protect northern residents.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening issued a pair of statements clarifying that the newly-announced 'friction prevention mechanism' in Lebanon will not restrict IDF operations in southern Lebanon. 'My instruction and the defense minister's instruction to the IDF is clear and has not changed — our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat against them or against the residents of the north. The IDF has no limitation on this matter,' he said at 16:20 Jerusalem. In a separate message, the premier added: 'I am firm that we remain in the security strip in southern Lebanon as long as needed to protect the residents of the north and all citizens of the state.'
5 developments
- DevelopingMilitary analyst: IDF retains freedom of action in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal from occupied areas
- StrongNetanyahu: IDF to stay in southern Lebanon as long as needed; 300 Hezbollah targets struck in two days
- DevelopingNetanyahu acknowledges Israel's operational constraints in southern Lebanon
- ConfirmedIDF: Troops have full freedom of action across southern Lebanon against any threat
Source and signal
- Internal intake