Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israeli forces will continue to maintain control of a security zone in southern Lebanon. He said the military presence will remain in place for as long as necessary to protect Israeli citizens and ensure national security. The issue of the Southern Lebanon security zone has once again become a major point of tension in the region.
Speaking on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that the safety of residents in northern Israel and across the country remains a top priority. He emphasized that Israel’s commitment to maintaining its military presence in the security zone would not change and that the decision is based on long-term security concerns.
Addressing Iran, Netanyahu said he would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons. He stressed that as long as he remains Israel’s prime minister, Iran will be prevented from acquiring a nuclear arsenal, describing the issue as a critical national security objective.
Later, during a public event, Netanyahu claimed that the conflict in the Middle East had helped Israel achieve a key goal by preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear ambitions. He also stated that joint actions by the United States and Israel had significantly weakened Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected Israel’s position, saying that Israel cannot maintain its presence in Lebanon indefinitely. He warned that Lebanon would respond to any violations of the ceasefire agreement. According to Qassem, the continued presence of Israeli forces in the Southern Lebanon security zone risks increasing tensions and instability across the region.