Netanyahu's Declaration: Israel Will Continue Operations in Lebanon Even if an Agreement Is Reached With Iran
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, the Israeli prime minister said Israel would not accept Hezbollah remaining on its northern border. The interview aired as people close to President Donald Trump were reported to be urging him to reconsider military options against Iran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed Israel would continue acting against Hezbollah in Lebanon even if an agreement is reached with Iran.
Speaking in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that lasted more than an hour, Netanyahu said Israel views Hezbollah as part of the wider conflict with Iran. He insisted Iran wants Hezbollah to remain in Lebanon and continue holding influence there, but added that Israel would not accept that situation.
Netanyahu said Hezbollah had about 150,000 rockets and missiles before the war and claimed Israel had destroyed more than 90 percent of that arsenal, adding that thousands of rockets and some ballistic missiles still remain.
The prime minister also said Hezbollah’s Radwan force had planned a large attack into northern Israel. According to Netanyahu, about 5,000 Radwan fighters had been prepared to enter the Galilee.
On Iran, Netanyahu said the regime is weaker than at any point since 1979, but emphasized that it is too early to determine whether it will fall. He said Iran has suffered military, economic and political pressure, including damage to petrochemical facilities, steel plants and infrastructure linked to missile production.
Netanyahu also addressed his discussions with President Donald Trump on Iran’s nuclear program saying that Trump has been focused for years on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. According to Netanyahu, sanctions slowed Iran’s nuclear progress but did not stop it.
The interview aired after Trump said Iran’s response to the latest American proposal was unacceptable. Iranian officials responded by criticizing Trump in strong terms.
With regards to the war Netanyahu said it had achieved significant results but was not over and that enriched uranium still had to be removed from Iran and enrichment sites still had to be dismantled.
That included emphasizing that Iran’s proxies and ballistic missile capabilities are still an issue.
When asked how enriched uranium could be removed, Netanyahu said it could be taken physically. He did not specify whether such an operation would be carried out by Israel, the United States or both.
Netanyahu also said a major weakening or collapse of the Iranian regime would affect the wider region, including Hezbollah and Hamas.