Netanyahu from Southern Lebanon: We crushed the Iranian axis in the region and will not withdraw until the Hezbollah threat is removed

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that his forces have accomplished great work in Lebanon, succeeding in eliminating and crushing the Iranian axis, and directly attacking it in a way that no one believed, which has removed an existential threat, according to his statement.

This came during his visit to his forces in the security zone in southern Lebanon, accompanied by his Defense Minister Israel Katz.

He added, according to SadaNews translation, that the most important link in the Iranian axis here is Hezbollah... they had 150,000 missiles and shells, which is the highest concentration of missiles and shells on the face of the earth, and today they have only about 8% left, but this number is still large; however, it is no longer what it was.

He continued: We have eliminated 9,000 "terrorists" among them hundreds in recent weeks, and the most important thing we are doing is creating buffer zones and security areas, not on our side of the border but on their side. We are doing this in Lebanon as we did in Gaza.

He added: These security areas serve as a change in perception, meaning we do not allow an army of "terrorists" to be present on our borders, and we keep them away, and this is what we are doing... We destroy everything that has been used as a tool to attack us, whether above ground or below it... I tell you (addressing his soldiers): Do not leave the area before completing the mission.

He added: I believe that the most important thing you should know is, first and foremost, that our directive, mine and that of the Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff and his deputy, is to defend yourselves first. You are well aware of the existence of a threat to your security and your lives, so act, do not wait; this action is an irreversible directive.

He touched upon the political situation with Lebanon, saying: Because we have achieved, thanks to your work here, Lebanon recognizes Israel, and Israel recognizes Lebanon, and we say to Iran and Hezbollah: Leave here, you have no business here... There are two sovereign states that wish to establish peace between them, and sincerely aspire to restore security and prosperity to the residents of the north, as well as to the residents of Lebanon... you must leave... This is a slap in the face of the Iranian axis, and it will not go unnoticed.

He emphasized that his forces will not withdraw from Lebanon until the threat is removed and as long as the armed Hezbollah is present here threatening us, we will remain here.