Netanyahu: "Hezbollah Entering the War - the Mistake of their Life"

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited the commando base in the north today (Sunday), where he received a briefing from the commander of the commando unit, Brigadier General Omer Cohen, and the commander of the Maglan Unit, Lieutenant Colonel A, about the daring operations of the commando fighters, during which they eliminated hundreds of terrorists and rescued dozens of civilians, achieving operational control in the Gaza strip periphery in the first days of the war.

Furthermore, Netanyahu was briefed on the deployment of the commando unit throughout the entire region and their operational activities, including operations in the southern, northern, and Judea and Samaria (West Bank) regions. In conclusion, the commander of the unit and his personnel presented the Prime Minister with their readiness to continue the fight and defeat the enemy as a whole, both in terms of the readiness and skills of the fighters, and in terms of the equipment and capabilities of the commando.

(Video: Roy Avraham/GPO, Sound: Ben Peretz/GPO)

"You fought with exceptional courage in Gaza, your stories are a great source of inspiration," Netanyahu said to the soldiers. "I know you lost friends, it's a very, very tough thing, but we are in a battle for life, in a battle for our home. This is not an exaggeration, this is not rhetoric – this is the war. It's either us or them, they need to cease."

Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/Government Press Office

According to him, "We are now in a double battle – one battle is to stop them here, and the second battle is to achieve a decisive victory that wipes out Hamas over there. For this purpose, you are holding the line here at the moment, and your comrades are also prepared for every mission in the south. You are ready here and ready there.

"What you are doing here and what I've just heard from your commanders is of unparalleled importance; you are eliminating Hezbollah operatives trying to breach our frontlines. At the moment, I cannot say if Hezbollah will decide to fully engage in the war. If Hezbollah decides to enter the war, they will yearn for the Second Lebanon War. They will be making the mistake of their lives. We are prepared to confront them with a force beyond their imagination, and the consequences for them and the state of Lebanon would be devastating. But we are ready for any scenario. You are ready for any scenario."

"You have shown bravery, fighting spirit, determination - and with this spirit, we will achieve a complete and full victory," he concluded. "I want to salute you, you are heroes, you are lions, you have fought like lions, and you will continue to fight like lions. The entire Israel stands behind you, and the entire Israel salutes you."