Israel’s Defense Minister has said that the country’s invasion and assault on Lebanon is not yet complete. Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, “The IDF will maintain its hold on all areas it has cleared and captured. The ground operation in Lebanon and the strikes against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon have yielded many successes, but they are not yet complete.”
Katz said, “The goal we set, disarming Hezbollah through military or diplomatic means, was and remains the goal of this operation, to which we are fully committed. It has now also become an important diplomatic vehicle, including the direct involvement of the President of the United States and his commitment to this goal; as well as putting pressure on the Lebanese government.”
‘Will not give up possession under any circumstances’
He said, “We are inside Lebanon, in the midst of the ongoing war against Hezbollah, where the situation is currently stable and a ceasefire is in force for ten days. The IDF maintains and will continue to maintain control of all the areas it has liberated from terrorists and taken under its control.”
He further said that the area between the Litani River in southern Lebanon and the ‘security zone’ declared by Israel “has not yet been completely freed of terrorists and weapons. This problem will have to be resolved either through diplomatic means, or through continued military operations by the IDF after the end of the ceasefire.”
Civilians in southern Lebanon are rapidly returning to their homes after more than one million people were displaced due to the Israeli attack. Katz warned that “if hostile activities resume, any residents returning to the security zone will be required to evacuate to ensure the successful completion of our military operation.”