Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited occupied southern Lebanon on Tuesday and met Israeli troops. During the visit, he said Israeli forces would remain in the area while Hezbollah continued to pose a security threat.
The visit marked Netanyahu’s first trip to occupied Lebanese territory since Israel and Lebanon reached a US-mediated security agreement on Friday. Under the deal, Israel agreed to transfer control of two areas to the Lebanese army.
Netanyahu visited the region alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military officials. Moreover, the visit highlighted Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon despite the recent agreement.
Netanyahu Links Withdrawal to Hezbollah Threat
Addressing Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw until the perceived threat from Hezbollah ended. Furthermore, he stressed that Israeli troops would remain deployed as long as Hezbollah stayed armed and active in the area.
He described the group’s presence as an ongoing security concern for Israel. Therefore, he argued that maintaining military positions remained necessary under current conditions.
Security Agreement Faces Fresh Uncertainty
The latest visit came only days after the United States helped broker a security agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The agreement includes plans for Israel to hand over two areas to Lebanon’s armed forces.
However, Netanyahu’s remarks suggested that broader Israeli troop withdrawals would depend on future security developments. His comments also indicated that Hezbollah’s activities would remain central to Israel’s military decisions in southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu last publicly visited occupied Lebanese territory in April before returning this week to meet troops stationed in the area.
