"Israel will respond to any attack by the Hezbollah movement against its forces in Lebanon," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israeli troops have no intention of withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
"Israel will not withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon," Netanyahu stated.
Netanyahu reported that he held a meeting this morning with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir to assess the current situation following overnight strikes on Lebanon.
"My message is very clear. Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and we will make Hezbollah pay a very high price for these attacks. The Israel Defense Forces will take measures to prevent any threat to our forces and territory," he declared.
The Prime Minister added that Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect the country's northern settlements. He explained that the strikes on Lebanon, which included hitting more than 80 Hezbollah targets—including command centers in the Bekaa Valley—were a direct response to an attack on Israeli tank crews in southern Lebanon.
"In this clash, four soldiers, including a battalion commander with the rank of colonel, were killed. Following this horrific attack, which was a gross violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, I ordered the Israel Defense Forces to deliver a powerful blow to Hezbollah last night," Netanyahu noted.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified significantly along the border region. The security zone in southern Lebanon remains a critical strategic buffer for Israel, intended to prevent cross-border incursions and rocket fire into northern Israeli communities, which have faced persistent threats since the escalation of hostilities.
