Lapid: Israel must do what it needs to to protect its civilians, even if it means invading Lebanon

By Sam Sokol 4 March 2026, 3:09 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid speaks with an IDF officer along the northern border with Lebanon, on March 4, 2026. (Yesh Atid)

Israel must take whatever steps are necessary to protect Israelis in the north of the country, even if that involves an invasion of Lebanon, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid declares, following a series of meetings with soldiers and residents along the border.

“We must ensure that the residents of the northern border live in security; they will not have security if Hezbollah sits across the border,” Lapid says. “If this involves creating a sterile zone, let them create a sterile zone. If this involves entering Lebanon, we must enter Lebanon. Hezbollah must be eliminated to provide security to the residents of this area.”

The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday it had deployed troops deeper into southern Lebanon, beyond the five posts it currently holds, “as part of an enhanced forward defense posture” amid attacks by the Hezbollah terror group.

The expanded deployment came after Iran-backed Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones at northern Israel early Monday in response to Israel’s killing of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.