Katz: Deployment into southern Lebanon intended to prevent ‘direct fire’ on Israeli communities

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Defense Minister Israel Katz says the IDF’s move to advance in southern Lebanon is intended to prevent “direct fire” on Israeli communities.

“To prevent the possibility of direct fire at Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon and defend the border communities from there,” Katz says in a statement.

“The IDF continues to operate forcefully against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organization is paying and will pay a heavy price for the fire toward Israel,” he adds.

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