Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists have "no business" in southern Lebanon, urging both Iran and its proxy group to withdraw from the region. Netanyahu made these remarks during a visit to Israel Defense Forces troops stationed in the security zone along the Lebanese border.
"We say to both Iran and Hezbollah: Get out of here," Netanyahu stated, addressing the troops. He emphasized that the recent framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which saw mutual recognition between Jerusalem and Beirut, would facilitate the restoration of "a reality of security and prosperity" along their shared frontier.
Netanyahu described the agreement as a "slap in the face" to the "Iranian axis" and cautioned that it "won’t necessarily go unchallenged" by Tehran and its allies. He expressed pride in the achievement, attributing it to the troops' actions and governmental decisions. "Our insistence is that we will not leave Southern Lebanon until the threat is eliminated," he asserted. "As long as Hezbollah is armed and present here, posing a threat to us, we will remain here."
He instructed the troops to "not wait, act" when confronting threats in the security zone, reiterating an "ironclad directive" from top military leadership to prioritize their own safety. Netanyahu affirmed Israel's intention to maintain control of buffer zones in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, stating the country "will no longer allow an army of terrorists to have a foothold on our border."
The prime minister detailed Hezbollah's role as a key component of the Iranian axis, noting that the group's arsenal of 150,000 missiles and rockets prior to the recent conflict has been significantly reduced. He claimed Hezbollah now possesses about 8% of its original stockpile, with the IDF having eliminated approximately 9,000 operatives, including hundreds in recent weeks. He added that Israeli forces have pushed Hezbollah back and destroyed infrastructure used for attacks, including tunnels.
Hezbollah resumed rocket and drone attacks into Israel on March 2, following the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Israel initiated extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah targets and expanded military operations within Lebanon to prevent cross-border attacks on Israeli communities. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had previously vowed to take measures to halt the cross-border hostilities and to outlaw the Iranian proxy.
Subsequent to the renewed hostilities, Israeli and Lebanese officials engaged in five rounds of direct talks at the U.S. State Department, culminating in the framework of understandings reached on Friday, contingent on Hezbollah's removal from southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Monday that Israel has communicated to the Trump administration its resolve not to withdraw from Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza as long as threats from Iranian-backed terrorist organizations persist. Katz also indicated that the IDF is prepared for potential Iranian missile fire in defense of its Lebanese proxy and has identified targets within Iran for retaliatory strikes. He mentioned that Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7-8 in support of Hezbollah, prompting Israeli retaliation. "If we have definitive intelligence about Iranian decisions, we will act on it," Katz said. "If Iran attacks us with missiles, we will respond with force, and that has been made clear to the Americans." He added that a renewed Iranian attack could occur imminently and that Israel would not interfere with the U.S. president's actions regarding Iran.