Israel Katz to Hezbollah: We're gunning for you if you break the ceasefire

Defense Minister Israel Katz sent a harsh warning to Hezbollah today (Sunday) following the interception of a Hezbollah intelligence gathering drone over Metulah last Thursday, saying that "either there are no drones or there will be no Hezbollah."

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF positions in Lebanon today, together with the commander of Division 146, Brigadier General Yiftach Norkin.

While there, he spoke with the commanders and soldiers and expressed his great appreciation for implementing the "zero tolerance" policy against violations by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and for protecting the residents and settlements of the north.

During his visit to Lebanon, he said that "in recent days we have seen attempts to launch drones toward the State of Israel. I want to send a clear message from here to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government: Israel will not accept drone launches from Lebanon.

We will not allow a return to the reality of October 7th. We will thwart threats and respond with full force. Either there will be no drones or there will be no Hezbollah. I suggest to Nasrallah's successor's successor not to misjudge Israel's determination as his predecessors did - lest he pay a very heavy price."

The IDF continues to hold onto a number of villages on the Lebanese side of the border due to what they say is the slowness of the Lebanese Army in taking over and demilitarizing southern Lebanon and keeping Hezbollah out of the region, in accordance with both the terms of the ceasefire and UN Resolution 1701.

While the IDF was supposed to have evacuated southern Lebanon on January 26, delays in Lebanese Army deployment and repeated Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire led Israel to request and receive an extension of the deadline for withdrawal to February 18, two and a half weeks from now.