Defense Minister Israel Katz held a situation assessment in the "pit" this morning (Friday) together with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Director General of the Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, Head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, and other senior officials in the defense establishment.
Defense Minister: "Israel's policy in Lebanon has been and remains clear - the ultimate goal is to disarm Hezbollah through military and political means, regardless of the Iran issue.
""The IDF is completing the ground maneuver up to the anti-tank line, in order to protect and prevent a direct threat to Israeli border settlements.".
The minister added: "The houses in the villages near the border in Lebanon, which serve as Hezbollah outposts for all intents and purposes, will be demolished in accordance with the Rafah and Khan Yunis model in Gaza, in order to remove a threat from Israeli settlements.".
""The IDF will have security control over the Litani area, and the return of 600,000 residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated north to south of the Litani will not be possible - until the security of residents of the north is ensured. The IDF will continue to thwart Hezbollah leaders and operatives throughout Lebanon, in addition to the 1,000 terrorists who have already been eliminated since the beginning of the current campaign.".
He added and threatened: "The IDF will act forcefully against the rocket fire from Lebanon towards Israeli cities and towns - and Hezbollah will pay heavy prices. We promised security to the northern towns and towns, and that is exactly what we will do.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
