Netanyahu says attacks against Hezbollah to continue even with a ceasefire

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will maintain military operations against Hezbollah, even if a ceasefire agreement is reached in Lebanon.  

“The most important thing is not [the deal that] will be laid on paper,” Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament. “We will be forced to ensure our security in the north and to systematically carry out operations against Hezbollah’s attacks … even after a ceasefire.”  

Israel has emphasized that any truce must ensure the absence of Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.  

“We will not allow Hezbollah to return to the state it was in on October 6, 2023”—the day before its Palestinian ally Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel—Netanyahu said.