Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz restated that the primary goal in Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah using military and political strategies. Katz, after consulting with military officials, emphasized that Israel’s approach is clear and focused on neutralizing Hezbollah, irrespective of the Iran factor. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are finalizing a ground offensive in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from launching anti-tank missile attacks towards Israel.
Katz revealed plans to demolish homes in Lebanese border villages acting as Hezbollah outposts, following a model from Gaza, to eliminate threats to Israeli communities. The IDF will retain security control in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, delaying the return of 600,000 southern Lebanese residents until the safety of northern residents is guaranteed. Additionally, IDF will persist in targeting Hezbollah members across Lebanon, including the 1,000 terrorists eliminated since the campaign’s inception, and will respond robustly to Hezbollah’s rocket assaults on Israel.
The IDF reported significant achievements in Lebanon, with 1,000 terrorists, including senior commanders, eliminated and over 3,500 terror targets struck in the past month. The military operations also targeted bridges used for weapon transfers and economic activities. Notably, IDF announced the death of Hezbollah’s Southern Front commander, Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashem, in a strike carried out by the Israeli Navy in Beirut, highlighting Hashem’s extensive experience and pivotal role within Hezbollah.
