Netanyahu: Israel can strike Hezbollah north of Litani under US-Lebanon deal

Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel retains large degree of freedom of action in Lebanon, adds that Hezbollah’s arsenal of rockets and missiles is down to 10% of pre-war level.

By World Israel News Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel is operating inside Lebanon with freedom of action to thwart Hezbollah threats, including north of the Litani River.

Speaking at a conference of the IDF senior command, Netanyahu said Israel had achieved “monumental achievements” in Lebanon during the war.

He cited “the elimination of the rocket array that threatened the entire country” and the creation of a security zone designed to prevent an invasion of northern Israel and direct anti-tank missile fire.

“We are attacking, as we are doing now, both in the security zone, north of the security zone and north of the Litani,” Netanyahu told commanders.

“We have the freedom of action to thwart immediate and emerging threats; this is the agreement we made with the US and also with the Lebanese government,” he said.

Netanyahu said the mission in Lebanon was not complete, warning that Hezbollah still poses two main threats: 122 mm rockets and drones.

“There are still two major threats from Lebanon, from Hezbollah: The threat of 122 mm rockets, and the threat of drones and UAVs,” he said.

He said Israel is pursuing both operational and technological solutions to neutralize those threats.

“If we solve them through a combination of operational and technological means, we are essentially on the path to disarming Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said.

He added that Hezbollah now has “roughly 10% of the missiles” it had at the start of the war, but said the remaining arsenal still threatens residents of northern Israel.

Netanyahu praised the resilience of northern residents and told IDF commanders that solving the remaining rocket and drone threats would help clear the way for a diplomatic resolution.