Netanyahu Breaks Silence on Beaufort: 'We Shattered the Fear Barrier'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation Sunday for the first time regarding the IDF's conquest of the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, declaring that Israel has fundamentally transformed its security doctrine from defensive containment to offensive initiative across all fronts.

"Last night, our heroic soldiers captured the Beaufort outpost and proudly raised the flag of the State of Israel and the Golani Brigade flag there," Netanyahu stated during his remarks. "I remind you that forty-four years ago, this place was a symbol of our fighters' heroic battle, but it was also a symbol of deep division among us."

The timing of the operation carried profound historical weight. The conquest was revealed on the memorial day for the fallen of the First Lebanon War, precisely forty-four years after Golani soldiers fought a legendary battle at the same fortress in 1982, and twenty-six years after Israel withdrew from the security zone in Lebanon.

Soldiers' Message: 'The Public Doesn't Know Our Achievements'

Netanyahu revealed a striking conversation he had with brigade commanders at the northern border on Friday. "They told me: 'Tell the people of Israel what we're doing here. Prime Minister, the public doesn't know about our achievements,'" the premier recounted, quoting the field commanders who requested he convey their message to the nation.

The Prime Minister proceeded to outline the scope of IDF operations against Hezbollah. Since the beginning of the war, Israeli forces have eliminated 8,000 Hezbollah terrorists. Since the launch of Operation Roar of the Lion, 3,000 terrorists have been neutralized, and in the past month alone, 700 Hezbollah operatives were killed. "This is more than everything we eliminated during the Second Lebanon War," Netanyahu emphasized, providing historical context for the strategic significance of the Beaufort conquest.

Directive to Deepen Lebanon Operations

Netanyahu detailed the operational directives he issued to the IDF command. "I instructed the IDF to expand the maneuver in Lebanon. Our forces crossed the Litani River, seized commanding terrain, and captured the Beaufort Ridge," he stated. The Prime Minister clarified that current orders call for deepening and broadening Israel's hold in areas previously controlled by Hezbollah.

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the operation was executed under the Prime Minister's direct guidance and personal instruction. The IDF expanded its ground maneuver in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River, and secured the Beaufort Ridge, a strategically vital position for defending Galilee communities. Katz characterized the move as a clear message to Hezbollah that any force threatening Israeli civilians would forfeit key strategic assets.

'We Returned United, Determined, Stronger Than Ever'

Netanyahu framed the Beaufort conquest as representing a dramatic shift in Israel's security posture. "We shattered the fear barrier. We are initiating, we are operating on all frontsm in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon. We established security zones beyond our borders to protect our communities," he asserted, outlining what he termed a fundamental departure from previous containment policies.

The Prime Minister emphasized the transformation in national unity since 1982. "We returned to Beaufort differently, united, determined, and stronger than ever," he declared, contrasting the current operation with the divisive political climate that surrounded the First Lebanon War.

Repeating the words of the brigade commanders, Netanyahu conveyed their battlefield assessment: "Prime Minister, we are executing the mission. We are charging forward and Hezbollah is fleeing for its life." He pledged that while the campaign would require additional time, Israel would restore security to northern residents, just as it had done for communities in the south.

Political Reactions: 'Correcting Historical Mistakes'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the Beaufort conquest, asserting that "the return to Beaufort is an expression of correcting old national mistakes and distorted conceptions." Smotrich emphasized that Israel's security is fortified through strength rather than concessions and withdrawals.

"We fled from Lebanon and received the disaster of the Second Lebanon War and the empowerment of Hezbollah to monstrous dimensions that we are now required to eliminate through hard work," the minister stated, arguing for permanent territorial control and aggressive military posture. His remarks reflected broader debates within the coalition regarding Israel's shift from defensive to offensive strategic doctrine.

The operation marks a significant escalation in Israel's Lebanon campaign, with the IDF now positioned beyond the Litani River and in control of commanding heights that overlook both southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The Beaufort Ridge, a medieval fortress site that has changed hands repeatedly throughout history, now flies Israeli and Golani flags once again, a powerful symbol of Israel's determination to reshape the security reality along its northern frontier.