Netanyahu: We will remain in southern Lebanon and one of the two experimental areas is outside the security zone

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday evening after signing the framework agreement with Lebanon, "Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon, and we will maintain it as long as Hezbollah's weapons are not removed and as long as there is a threat to the State of Israel."

He added, "This is also a major blow to Iran, which is trying to force our withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are telling it: this is not your concern. You have no role in Lebanon, neither you nor Hezbollah nor any other organization."

He talked about the content of the agreement: "We will allow the Lebanese army to start deploying and taking control of certain areas, and we will implement two experimental areas, both of which came based on the recommendation of the Israeli army."

Netanyahu pointed out that "the first one is located outside the security zone south of the Litani River, while the second one is located north of the Litani, and a small part of it is within the expanded security zone that we achieved during the past two weeks, which the Israeli army confirms it no longer needs."

He concluded his statement by saying, "We continue to maintain the original security zone, outside the reach of anti-tank missiles, and we will not allow Hezbollah or the civilians to enter it, and this will remain the case, and most importantly, Israel affirms that its security comes before everything else."