Israel to maintain security zone in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Israeli military will maintain its presence in the security zone established in southern Lebanon, stating that any decision regarding withdrawal will be made solely in line with Israel’s security requirements.

In his statement, Netanyahu said that a military presence in southern Lebanon is necessary to safeguard Israel’s northern regions and its civilian population. He stressed that Israeli forces would remain deployed for as long as deemed necessary, and that there would be no change in this policy.

The Israeli Prime Minister also referred to Iran’s nuclear programme, stating that during his time in office he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

He said Israel had achieved key objectives during recent tensions in the Middle East and had succeeded in preventing Iran from developing nuclear capability.

Netanyahu further claimed that had Israel and its allies not taken action, Iran would by now have been much closer to acquiring nuclear weapons. He added that joint operations by the United States and Israel had inflicted significant damage on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with effects expected to last for an extended period.

On the other hand, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected the Israeli position, stating that Lebanon would not accept any Israeli military presence on its territory. He said that any violation of a ceasefire agreement would be met with an appropriate response.

Qassem also stated that Israel had attempted to persuade the United States to take action against Iran, but that this strategy had not achieved the desired outcomes. In his view, Iran had emerged stronger and more organised despite sustained pressure.

Political observers note that Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon could further escalate regional tensions, while Hezbollah’s firm response raises concerns about the possibility of future conflict.

Experts further suggest that the situation in Lebanon, Israel’s security policy, and escalating tensions involving Iran could have a significant impact on the political landscape of the Middle East in the coming days