Netanyahu Visits Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon, Vows Troops Will Remain Until Hezbollah Threat Is Eliminated.
Southern Lebanon:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli forces operating in the security zone in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai. During the visit, Netanyahu praised the military’s operations against Hezbollah, reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining its security presence in southern Lebanon, and declared that Israeli troops would remain until the threat posed by Hezbollah is fully eliminated.
The visit included senior military briefings from Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, commanders of the 91st Division, and brigade commanders deployed in the area. Israeli officials reviewed the latest operational developments along the northern front and presented Netanyahu and Katz with demonstrations of newly developed ammunition and weapons systems designed to counter the growing threat posed by drones.
Addressing Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu commended their efforts, describing their operations as a major turning point in Israel’s campaign against what he called the “Iranian axis.” He said Israel had significantly weakened Iranian influence across the region through military operations targeting both Iran and its allied groups.
According to Netanyahu, Hezbollah—long regarded by Israel as the strongest component of Iran’s regional network—has suffered severe military losses. He claimed the organization once possessed approximately 150,000 missiles and rockets, but now retains only around eight percent of that arsenal. While acknowledging that the remaining capabilities still pose a threat, he said they are no longer comparable to Hezbollah’s previous strength.
The prime minister also stated that Israeli forces have killed approximately 9,000 Hezbollah fighters, including hundreds in recent weeks, although these figures have not been independently verified.
A central theme of Netanyahu’s remarks was Israel’s strategy of establishing security buffer zones inside neighboring territories. He described the creation of these zones in both southern Lebanon and Gaza as a “paradigm shift” in Israel’s defense doctrine.
Rather than relying solely on border defenses, Netanyahu said Israel is preventing armed groups from establishing positions close to Israeli communities by pushing them farther away and systematically dismantling military infrastructure. He said Israeli forces are destroying above-ground and underground facilities, including tunnels, weapons sites, infiltration routes, and villages allegedly used for militant operations.
“Our directive is to leave nothing behind,” Netanyahu told the troops, praising their work in removing what he described as terrorist infrastructure.
He also stressed that protecting Israeli soldiers remains the military’s highest operational priority. Netanyahu instructed troops to act immediately if they identify threats to their own safety or the lives of fellow soldiers, emphasizing that they should not wait for additional authorization before responding.
Commenting on relations with Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel seeks long-term security and stability between the two countries. He asserted that both Israel and Lebanon are sovereign states interested in restoring peace, security, and prosperity for residents living along the border.
He called on both Iran and Hezbollah to withdraw from the area, arguing that neither has a legitimate role in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu described such a development as a significant setback for Iran’s regional influence, while acknowledging that these efforts could face resistance.
Concluding his address, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s determination to maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon.
“Our insistence is that we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat is eliminated,” he said. “As long as Hezbollah is armed and present here, posing a threat to us, we will remain here.”
The prime minister was accompanied during the visit by Shmuel Ben Ezra, head of Israel’s National Security Council, and his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno.
The visit comes amid continued tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah have remained engaged in intermittent hostilities following the wider regional conflict that intensified after the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israel has repeatedly stated that its objective is to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing military positions near its northern frontier, while Hezbollah has vowed to continue confronting Israeli military operations.
