Netanyahu: IDF will remain in Lebanon as long as needed, we’ll maintain regional air superiority

Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon for as long as they need to, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to guarantee the security of our communities in the north,” he says, speaking at a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots.

Lebanon is demanding that Israel fulfill its pledge to withdraw from two “pilot zones” in the nation’s south and hand them over to the Lebanese military before it agrees to participate in the next round of direct talks, scheduled for next week in Rome. Israeli forces would still retain a buffer zone in south Lebanon.

Turning to the campaign against Iran, Netanyahu repeats his oft-stated pledge that “with or without an agreement, Iran will not possess nuclear weapons.”

He notes that the US military was “a tremendous force multiplier” for Israel.

Without mentioning it directly, Netanyahu makes an oblique reference to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to sell F-35 fighters jets to Turkey, one of Israel’s most vocal critics and a NATO member state.

“The war is not over,” says Netanyahu. “Alongside old challenges, new ones continue to emerge. Old axes collapse, and new ones arise. We are preparing for every scenario. We know one thing: we must always remain stronger than our enemies.”

“Preserving Israel’s air superiority is a cornerstone of our national security doctrine. It is equally essential for maintaining stability in the turbulent Middle East,” he says, echoing arguments he made this week against the sale. “We achieve this by continually improving both our people and our technology.”