Visiting troops in south Lebanon, Netanyahu maintains IDF won’t withdraw ‘as long as Hezbollah remains here’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges troops to react to any threats against them in the southern Lebanon security zone during a visit to the zone, days after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-brokered framework envisioning a gradual Israeli withdrawal tied to verified Hezbollah disarmament in the area, according to a statement from the premier’s office.

“If you identify a threat to your security, to your lives, or to the lives of your soldiers — act. Do not wait. Act. That is an ironclad directive,” Netanyahu tells troops during the visit, also attended by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai.

Netanyahu says Israel’s recent military operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah led to the agreement, telling soldiers that, “as a result of your actions here, Lebanon recognizes Israel, Israel recognizes Lebanon, and we are telling both Iran and Hezbollah: leave this place. You have no business being here… This is a slap in the face, a punch in the face of the Iranian axis.”

He reiterates that “we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has been eliminated. And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening us, we will remain here as well.”

Netanyahu hails military achievements against Hezbollah, calling the terror group “the most important link in the Iranian axis,” and saying that after recent rounds of fighting, only 8% of its previous stock of 150,000 missiles and rockets remains, while 9,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed.

Netanyahu and Katz are briefed on operations in the zone by Northern Command chief Rafi Milo, the commander of the 91st Division, and brigade commanders operating in the field, and “were presented with a demonstration of innovative munitions and weapons systems” designed to counter the growing drone threat from Hezbollah, the statement says.

Netanyahu was also accompanied by two recently appointed officials, National Security Council Director Shmuel Ben Ezra and his military secretary, Guy Markizeno.