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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel's campaign in Lebanon aims to disarm Iran-allied Hezbollah and remove what he described as the threat to Israel's northern communities through a combination of military and diplomatic pressure.
Katz made the remarks during a ceremony marking Israel's national day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, as a truce between Israel and Lebanon remained in effect, but Israeli troops continued operating in southern Lebanon.
"The overarching goal of the campaign in Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah and remove the threat to the northern communities (of Israel) through a combination of military and diplomatic measures," Katz said.
He added that Israel would respond in the same way to "high-trajectory fire" toward Israel from north of the Litani and from throughout Lebanon.
Katz was referring to the Litani River, a natural marker cutting across southern Lebanon, below which Israel wants no further Hezbollah presence.
Although a truce between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday, Israeli troops remain present and are still actively fighting Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon.
Katz said Sunday that Israeli troops would use "full force" if threatened.
On Monday, an Arabic-language spokesperson for Israel's military warned residents in southern Lebanon not to return to homes they had earlier been urged to evacuate, saying Hezbollah activity in the area was considered a ceasefire violation.
Israel has carried out airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground incursion into the south of the country after Hezbollah entered the Middle East war in support of its backer Iran on March 2.
The military and diplomatic track described by Katz comes as Israel continues its campaign while maintaining its position on Hezbollah's presence in southern Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon are still engaged in talks under U.S. mediation to extend the current truce.
The two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran also remains in the background of those talks, with the truce due to expire overnight Tuesday and no new agreement yet reached.
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