Newsletters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday to exact a "very heavy price" from Hezbollah after four Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon.
He declared that Israeli troops will remain in the country's security zone "as long as necessary" to protect northern communities.
In a statement on X, Netanyahu identified one of the soldiers killed as Lt. Col. Dor Gadliah Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Armored Battalion.
The names of the three other soldiers had not yet been released.
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the commander of the 52nd Armored Battalion, Lt. Col. Dor Gadliah Ben Simhon, and of three heroic fighters whose names have not yet been published. May their blood be avenged, and I wish a full recovery to the wounded in yesterday's exchange of fire," Netanyahu said.
"Following the heinous attack by Hezbollah, which was a blatant violation of the ceasefire, I instructed the Israeli army last night to strike Hezbollah with full force," Netanyahu said.
He said the military struck more than 80 terrorist targets and eliminated dozens of militants, including a strike on Hezbollah headquarters in the Bekaa Valley on Friday morning. Netanyahu said he held an assessment meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
"My directive is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks," he said.
"The Israeli army will act to thwart any threat to our forces and our territory," Netanyahu added.
The Israeli army's security zone extends approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory from the northern Israeli border, an area where Israeli forces have issued mass evacuation orders forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
The Israeli military has called on the Lebanese army and residents to avoid entering the zone where its forces are operating.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to maintaining its military presence in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire extension and the U.S.-Iran agreement signed earlier this week.
"As I made unequivocally clear, including yesterday: Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as required to protect the settlements in the north," he said.
Defense Minister Katz echoed the message in a separate statement on X, saying the Israeli army would not withdraw from areas it controls stretching from the coastline in southwestern Lebanon to the Shaqif Heights near Nabatieh.
"We will not allow harm to our soldiers and civilians, and every violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah will be met with great force," Katz said.
"The Israeli army will remain in the security zone in Lebanon, from the coastline to the heights of the Beaufort, to protect the northern communities, thwart threats, and destroy terror infrastructure in the area, both below and above ground."
The four soldiers killed in southern Lebanon are the first Israeli deaths since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran this week.
Israel's military said the soldiers, including the battalion commander, were killed when an explosive device struck their tank while operating with a combat force near the village of Manteef.
Israel has continued strikes on southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire, extended by 45 days as of May 17, and the broader U.S.-Iran agreement.
Israeli air and artillery strikes on numerous towns in southern Lebanon since overnight had already killed 25 people before the latest fighting, according to Lebanese reports.
Hezbollah said it had targeted a group of Israeli soldiers attempting to infiltrate the strategically significant Ali Taher Heights in Lebanon's Nabatieh province.
Hezbollah rejected Israeli accusations that it had violated the truce, accusing Israel instead of failing to honor any ceasefire agreement.
"The Islamic Resistance will remain vigilant against any aggression. Its fighters will defend their land and people," the group said in a statement, adding that "the enemy has never complied with any ceasefire agreement."
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
