Israel intensifies campaign inside Lebanon, striking Hezbollah strongholds and guaranteeing northern residents will never abandon homes.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz conducted a high-level situational assessment Friday morning inside the command bunker at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, alongside senior defense leadership, as Israel continues its determined campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The meeting included Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai and several top security officials, among them Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram, IDF Intelligence Directorate head Shlomi Binder, Operations Directorate chief Itzik Cohen, Planning Directorate chief Hedi Zilberman, and the Defense Minister’s military secretary Guy Markizano. The discussion focused on operational progress against Hezbollah and the evolving security situation along Israel’s northern border.
Following the assessment, Katz emphasized that Israel is continuing strong military action against Hezbollah, including targeted strikes in Beirut’s Dahiya district, a central stronghold of the Iranian-backed terrorist organization. He stressed that the evacuation of residents from villages in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River represents a critical step in weakening Hezbollah’s ability to threaten Israel.
Katz underscored that Israel’s top priority remains protecting civilians in northern Israel and ensuring they feel secure in their homes. He made it clear that Israel will not allow Hezbollah’s aggression to force Israeli communities to abandon their land.
He declared that Israeli citizens will not be driven from their homes by terrorist threats, emphasizing that maintaining the security and stability of northern communities is a national test during the ongoing conflict.
Katz also revealed that the Israel Defense Forces have significantly expanded operations within Lebanese territory, reinforcing positions along the line of contact and pushing forces forward to block Hezbollah attacks before they reach Israeli communities.
According to the defense minister, Israeli forces are now operating from multiple forward positions inside enemy territory, forming a protective shield against anti-tank missile fire and other cross-border threats. The strategy reflects a clear shift toward proactive defense, ensuring that Israeli communities are protected by military presence positioned closer to the source of the threat.
Concluding his remarks, Katz warned that Hezbollah’s strategy relies on terrorizing Israeli civilians into abandoning the north, but he made clear that the plan will fail. Israel, he said, will continue its military campaign until Hezbollah is defeated in one way or another.
