Israel's Defense Minister: Hezbollah is "Begging for a Ceasefire"
Israel's defense minister reveals Hezbollah has lost more than 1,400 fighters (double the toll of the Second Lebanon War) and warns Iran the IDF is ready to strike if fired upon.
Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a stark assessment on Thursday, revealing the scale of damage inflicted on Hezbollah and issuing a direct warning to Tehran.
Katz said Hezbollah is desperately seeking an end to the fighting. "The terrorist organization Hezbollah is begging for a ceasefire, and its Iranian patrons are pressing and threatening, out of serious fear that Israel will crush Hezbollah," he declared.
Operation Eternal Darkness
The minister disclosed that more than 200 terrorists were eliminated in a single day during Operation Eternal Darkness, bringing the total number of fighters killed in the current campaign to over 1,400. He described the operation as "a very powerful blow to the face of Hezbollah that left it stunned and confused by the depth of the penetration and the scale of the strike." That figure is more than double the number of Hezbollah fighters killed during the entire Second Lebanon War.
The four-line plan
Katz outlined what he called a structured operational framework, four lines of control Israel is establishing across southern Lebanon. Along the border, the IDF is systematically destroying terror infrastructure in Lebanese villages adjacent to the fence. Further in, Israel has expanded its footholds inside Lebanese territory from 5 to 15 strategic positions. A third line involves continued ground maneuver to seize commanding positions. The fourth and outermost line runs along the Litani River, where the IDF is maintaining tight control to block new militant infiltration and prevent residents from returning to southern Lebanon.
Warning to Tehran
Katz also made clear that the air campaign will continue and intensify, stating that the IDF will strike militants and launchers in the Litani zone and beyond "in accordance with the Iran model and with great force."
He closed with a direct message to Iran: "The IDF is ready and prepared to act with force if Iran fires toward Israel." He added: "We promised to bring security to the residents of the north, and that is exactly what we will do."