Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he does not trust the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, affirming that his forces will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon.
The PM’s comments came as the Israeli army raised its alert level over the weekend amid concerns of a possible escalation on multiple fronts.
In the south of Lebanon, Israeli forces continue to attack villages, while assessments in Tel Aviv warn that Hezbollah is regrouping, studying Israeli activity, and preparing to mount a significant attack dependent on developments with Iran.
Israel Will Remain in Security Zone
In an interview with Radio North on Sunday, Netanyahu underlined that Israel intends to remain in its security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
“No, I don't trust them to disarm Hezbollah,” Netanyahu told host Gadi Ness when asked if he believes the Lebanese government will disarm the party. “That's why we said that as long as it is not disarmed, we will remain in this zone that changed the situation in the north.”
He explained that Israel’s military presence is aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities and threatening northern Israeli communities.
Netanyahu also said Israel created a security zone free of all terrorist systems, affirming that “a large part of the villages were simply terrorist strongholds and they are no longer there.”
The Israeli PM said Israel would continue its military operations against Hezbollah “as much as necessary” and vowed to ultimately eliminate the group.
“We will eliminate Hezbollah, although it is weakened and a shadow of itself,” he said, adding that Israel also needed to address the threat posed by Hezbollah's drones.
Israel Raises State of Alert
Meanwhile, Maariv newspaper reported Saturday that the Israeli army had placed the 36th and 91st divisions on what it described as “an extremely high state of operational alert.”
The newspaper said the army deployed two divisions in the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon.
“Hezbollah was recruiting members and strengthening its defensive positions in the Bekaa Valley, along the coast and in Beirut’s southern suburb,” the report said.
It also cited Israeli assessments suggesting that the party might launch an attack targeting an Israeli military site or patrol, or even attempt to kidnap soldiers.
The newspaper then cited an Israeli military source as saying that Israel had raised its alert level to prepare for a prolonged period of heightened readiness, amid reports that Iran was seeking to create a regional crisis involving multiple fronts.
Ongoing Israeli Attacks
At the field level, Israeli forces continued their attacks on several areas in southern Lebanon. Artillery shelling targeted the town of Al-Mansouri and the outskirts of the town of Zibqin in the governorate of Tyre.
A massive explosion was heard in the town of Al-Qantara in the Marjayoun district, while Israeli forces carried out a violent demolition in the town of Al-Khiam at night, destroying Al-Mabarrat School building.
