Netanyahu says Lebanon threat 'neutralised' but 'there's more to be done'
Israel will continue its military operations inside Lebanon until threats along its northern border are “neutralised”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, underscoring a hardening stance ahead of planned talks with Beirut.
At a visit to senior commanders in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said: “What we are seeing is that we have neutralised the threat of an invasion from Lebanon through this security zone. We are also pushing back the danger of anti-tank fire and addressing it.”
He added: “There is more to do, and we are doing it… we have effectively changed the face of the Middle East. Our enemies, Iran and the axis of evil, came to destroy us, and now they are simply fighting for their survival.”
Netanyahu was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Northern Command head Major General Rafi Milo, according to reports.
The remarks come as the Lebanese presidency confirmed direct talks with Israel will begin on Tuesday at the US State Department in Washington, even as Israeli airstrikes continue despite a ceasefire agreed last week between the United States, Israel and Iran’s allies.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is pressing for an immediate and stable ceasefire amid a worsening humanitarian situation, while Israel is expected to demand the full disarmament of Hezbollah and tighter border security.
Separately, US Vice President JD Vance held 21 hours of talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, which ended on Sunday without agreement. Vance said the outcome was “bad news for Iran, much more than it's bad news for the United States."
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
