Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a rare and historic visit to southern Lebanon on Tuesday to assess operational progress in the ongoing war. Accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Tamir Yadai, the Prime Minister toured the designated security zone. Local commanders, including Northern Command chief Major General Rafi Milau, provided a comprehensive briefing on current operations and demonstrated advanced technology designed to neutralize drone threats.
The high profile visit follows a newly minted agreement between Israel, the United States, and the Lebanese government. Addressing concerns from evacuated citizens, the Prime Minister promised residents of northern Israel that any current or future pilot withdrawals from the buffer zones would not compromise public safety. Netanyahu framed the geopolitical shift as a massive blow to regional adversaries, claiming the entire Iranian axis is currently being systematically dismantled.
Speaking directly to IDF soldiers stationed on Lebanese soil, Netanyahu detailed the massive military degradation inflicted upon Hezbollah. He noted that the group once possessed 150,000 rockets and missiles, creating the densest concentration of such weapons anywhere on earth. According to his metrics, only about 8% of that massive arsenal remains today, though he noted that it still represents a significant challenge.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Israeli operations have successfully eliminated 9,000 terrorists, including hundreds killed in just the past few weeks. He explained that the strategic focus has shifted toward creating permanent buffer zones on the enemy side of the border rather than the Israeli side. Netanyahu explicitly compared the current security architecture to the ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, noting that both arenas now utilize this defensive model.
In response to recent domestic scrutiny regarding military rules of engagement after the treaty, Netanyahu clarified the current operational directives. He issued an absolute mandate to the troops, ordering them to prioritize their own safety above all else. "If you identify a threat to your security or to your soldiers, act immediately. Don’t wait," he instructed, calling the order an ironclad directive.
Netanyahu also asserted that the diplomatic memorandum signifies a profound paradigm shift where Lebanon and Israel recognize each other as sovereign states. He sent a blunt warning to Tehran, stating that the future of Lebanon should be decided by Lebanon and Israel, not by Tehran or its proxies. "Our message to Iran and Hezbollah is simple: you have no place here. The future of Lebanon should be decided by Lebanon and Israel, not by Tehran or its proxies. Our goal is lasting security and prosperity for both sides of the border," Netanyahu proclaimed.
The Prime Minister concluded his speech by reinforcing that Israeli forces will not be rushing to vacate the area. He emphasized that the primary objective remains the total neutralization of any cross border dangers to Israeli communities. "As long as Hezbollah is here and poses a threat to us, we will stay," Netanyahu vowed.
