On Tuesday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he conducted a field visit to what Israel terms the "security area" in South Lebanon. Accompanying him were Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and several senior military leaders to assess the security developments on the northern border.
During his visit, Netanyahu received a military briefing from leaders of the northern region and field brigades. He emphasized that Israeli forces will maintain their presence in the area as long as there is a perceived threat from Hezbollah.
Addressing the soldiers, Netanyahu stated, "As long as Hezbollah is present and poses a threat, we will stay here. If you see any threat, act immediately," highlighting that these so-called "security areas" represent a shift in Israeli security doctrine aimed at preventing armed groups from establishing a presence near the border.
He added that the framework agreement, signed under U.S. auspices between Israel and Lebanon, represents a move toward a new security reality, sending a message to Iran and Hezbollah to "leave," and deemed the agreement a "strong blow to the Iranian axis."
Netanyahu also directed Israeli forces to continue dismantling what he described as military infrastructure, tunnels, and facilities that could be used for attacks, stressing that the forces will not withdraw until their security tasks are completed.
The visit comes days after the signing of the framework agreement in Washington, which, according to Israel, includes remaining in a security area in South Lebanon until the implementation of security arrangements, such as Hezbollah’s disarmament. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, declaring it non-binding.