Israeli officials have openly said that troops will remain in southern Lebanon, as strikes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continue overnight despite the signing of the memorandum of understanding on Thursday.
Israeli army will stay in Lebanon “as long as necessary”, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement he posted on social media on Friday, promising to make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its attacks.
“Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary for the protection of the communities of the north,” he added.
Four Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon on Friday, including a battalion commander, the Israeli military reported.
Responding to the deaths of the four soldiers, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on social media, “We will not allow harm to our soldiers and citizens, and any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah will be met with great force.”
Israeli troops will remain in a so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon, extending from “the coastline to the heights of Beaufort,” Katz said.
The far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a far more aggressive military response, saying, “For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers should cry.”
He added that “all of Lebanon should burn” and said Israel must make clear that “the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for grabs.”
