Defense Minister Yisrael Katz spoke today (Tuesday) at a ceremony on Mount Herzl and emphasized that Israel continues to fight for its existence, threatening that if Lebanon does not act against the terrorist organization Hezbollah, the IDF will continue military activity.
The minister said: "Even as we gather here and unite with the memory of our fallen, in the midst of long weeks in which IDF forces are operating with strength and determination in southern Lebanon, our commitment to the residents of the north remains clear and unequivocal: to bring security to the residents of the north.".
The IDF is deployed in the security zone in Lebanon up to the anti-tank line at a depth of up to 10 kilometers - from the sea line in the west to the entrances to Mount Hermon in the east. From this line, which our heroic soldiers captured, the IDF protects Israeli communities from any direct threat - from a raid or anti-tank fire - and continues to act to thwart threats and terrorist infrastructures in the field.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have instructed the IDF to operate with all force, both on the ground and in the air, even during the ceasefire, to protect our soldiers in Lebanon from any threat. Any structure that threatens our forces and any roadway suspected of being loaded with explosives must be destroyed immediately.
This is the goal of Operation 'Silver Plow' in Lebanon: to remove the houses in the border villages that served as Hezbollah terror outposts and threatened Israeli communities and IDF soldiers - these houses will not remain there.
The terrorist organization Hezbollah has decided to attack Israel in the service of its Iranian masters and will pay the full price.
Nasrallah destroyed the Shiite community in Lebanon, and Naim Qassem will destroy it and pay with the loss of homes and territory - just like Hamas in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza - until he also pays with the loss of his head, as was the case with his predecessor and the predecessor before him, and with all the leaders of the axis of evil who reside together at the bottom of hell.
Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off. We will not return to the reality of before October 7. The IDF protects the communities and residents from enemy territory in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon.
The ultimate goal of the campaign in Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah and remove the threat from northern communities - through a combination of military and political measures.
The entire security zone up to the Yellow Line, which the IDF controls, must be free of residents and weapons, and the entire security area between the security zone and the Litani Line must be demilitarized and free of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons. If the Lebanese government continues to fail to meet its commitment, the IDF will do so by continuing military activity.
"We will also act in this way with regard to the steep-track firing north of the Litani and throughout Lebanon. The IDF is prepared to continue the mission: we have guaranteed security to the residents of the north - and so we will.".
