Netanyahu: No Withdrawal from Lebanon as Long as Armed Hezbollah Remains

Although Iran has proposed ending the conflict in Lebanon—including the withdrawal of Israeli troops—as a condition for a ceasefire with the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his position that he will not pull troops out of southern Lebanon as long as the threat from Hezbollah persists.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on June 30 (local time), Prime Minister Netanyahu visited an Israeli military base in southern Lebanon that day and stated, "We are warning both Iran and Hezbollah: 'Leave this place, you have no reason to be here.'" He added, "This is a powerful blow to the face of the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance.'"

He continued, "We will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat (from Hezbollah) is completely eliminated," emphasizing, "As long as an armed Hezbollah remains here and threatens us, we will also remain here."

Netanyahu further ordered the complete destruction of Hezbollah's infrastructure.

The DPA news agency reported that the Prime Minister instructed his forces to "leave nothing behind," referring to the surface and underground facilities that Hezbollah has used to attack Israel.

Netanyahu also described Hezbollah as the most important link in the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance,' boasting of the military's achievements by stating, "Through recent successive battles, only 8 percent of the 150,000 missiles and rockets Hezbollah once possessed remain, and 9,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed."

He encouraged his troops by saying, "If you perceive a threat to your lives and safety or that of your subordinates, act immediately. Do not wait; act. This is an ironclad rule."

Accompanying Prime Minister Netanyahu on his visit to the security zone in southern Lebanon were Defense Minister Israel Katz, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Tamir Yadai, National Security Council (NSC) Chairman Shmuel Ben-Ezra, and Military Secretary Guy Markizeno.

Netanyahu's visit comes just days after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework agreement mediated by the United States, which centers on the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops linked to the verified disarmament of Hezbollah.

Israel agreed to the framework under pressure from the U.S. to advance ceasefire negotiations with Iran, but has consistently expressed its will to resume full-scale war at any time if the threat from Hezbollah continues.

Hezbollah has maintained its opposition to the framework agreement, which aims for their disarmament.

(Photo: Provided by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.