Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a visit to areas under Israeli military control in southern Lebanon, said that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat to Israel’s security.
On Tuesday, June 30, Netanyahu emphasized during a meeting with Israeli forces that Israeli troops will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah is armed and continues to threaten Israel.
This is Netanyahu’s first visit to areas under Israeli control in Lebanon since a security agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached last week with U.S. mediation.
Under the agreement, Israel committed to transferring control of two areas to the Lebanese army.
However, Netanyahu said that the withdrawal of Israeli forces depends on the elimination of the Hezbollah threat.
Since the start of the conflict in March, Israel has established a buffer zone about 10 kilometers deep inside Lebanese territory, saying it aims to prevent Hezbollah attacks on northern Israeli settlements.
According to reports, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since the beginning of the fighting, and over one million have been displaced.
