Netanyahu: Lebanon Security Zone Troops Stay as Long as Needed

Netanyahu has made it clear that the Lebanon security zone is not up for debate. He said Israeli forces will stay there for as long as necessary to keep northern Israel safe.

“Nothing will change that commitment,” Netanyahu said. He also warned that Iran will never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, no matter what diplomatic talks take place.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz backed this position strongly. He said Israeli soldiers are free to act without any restriction to remove threats inside Lebanon.

A ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect on Friday. But just one day later, Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon. The situation remains very tense.

A Hezbollah official told Reuters that the group is committed to the ceasefire. However, he made clear that Israeli forces have no right to move freely in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said its fighters have not fired on Israeli troops since 6:30pm on Saturday.

Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in southern Lebanon on Sunday. He said Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow and is now in a very difficult position.

“We are committed to staying prepared and preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding,” Zamir said.

Some residents of southern Lebanon began returning home on Sunday after the fighting paused. However, Lebanon’s army warned people to delay their return to border villages for safety reasons.

In the city of Nabatieh, only a few residents were seen coming back to check on their homes and shops. One resident, Mohammad Salloum, said he came briefly to inspect his shop but returned to Sidon, where he had taken refuge.

Lebanon’s army urged residents to follow army instructions and stay away from border areas due to the ongoing danger from Israeli violations.