Katz warns Hezbollah: Join Iran, IDF takes land to Litani

The minister today in Lebanon (Photo: Elad Malka, Defense Ministry)

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon on Wednesday for an operational tour with Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, 91st Division commander Brig. Gen. Yuval Gaz, and other senior officers.

Katz toured the first line of villages and received a comprehensive briefing from commanders on Operation Silver Plowshare, the effort to destroy terror infrastructure in the area. The minister praised IDF commanders and soldiers for their determined activity against Hezbollah terrorists and stressed that Israel will not withdraw from the security zones.

"I came here today to strengthen the IDF commanders and soldiers, regular and reserve, who are operating with dedication and courage inside the security zones in Lebanon and Syria to protect the residents of the Galilee and the Golan from the threats of jihadist forces," the defense minister said. "As the prime minister and I have made clear: we will not withdraw from the security zones."

The minister's central warning focused on a scenario in which Hezbollah joins Iran in an attack on Israel. "If Hezbollah joins Iran in an attack on Israel, it will be struck a severe blow and will lose additional territory in southern Lebanon in the Nabatieh and Litani areas, which will become part of Israel's permanent security zone," Katz said. "The IDF is prepared to carry out the maneuver."

According to the defense minister, in such a case the entire Shiite population up to the Awali and Zahrani line would be evacuated northward, to enable a powerful strike on terror infrastructure in the area and to distance the drone threat from northern communities. In addition, the Dahieh quarter in Beirut would also be evacuated and its terror infrastructure struck.

"More than a million Shiites will become refugees in Lebanon," Katz warned, adding a personal message to the Hezbollah leader: "Nasrallah destroyed the Shiite community in Lebanon until he was eliminated, and Naim Qassem may destroy it completely, until he too is eliminated and sent to meet Nasrallah and his successor in the depths of hell."