IDF chief says war not nearing end, though Hamas and Hezbollah both routed

IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi says the war Israel has been waging for nearly 15 months is far from over, but both Hamas and Hezbollah are no longer militarily viable.

“This is a long war, and I cannot say we see it ending,” he says at a ceremony for wounded soldiers at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv. “But after the heavy prices we have paid, we are also seeing results. The military arm of Hamas has been defeated. Hezbollah has been completely routed.”

Earlier, while visiting southern Lebanon, Halevi said that the defeat of Hezbollah was not yet truly a victory for Israel.

“The way to truly win over Hezbollah — because we won militarily, our victory is quite clear — but true victory, victory that is long-term, that means lots of civilians here, lots of tourism here, that there will be restaurants here, and cafes, and people will go on bike rides, and the agriculture here, everything will prosper,” he said, seemingly referring to northern Israel.

Halevi repeats the remarks at Sheba, according to the Ynet news site, adding that Israel’s security situation on the Golan Heights is much better now, presumably referring to the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and Israel’s taking of part of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

“We’re fighting on all the border, and operations are also taking place very far away from Israel,” he adds, likely referring to Israeli actions in Yemen and Iran.