Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, vowing that Israel's forces would remain in the area as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah posed a threat. The visit came after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace and disarm Hezbollah.
Framework Agreement Conditions
The deal makes any Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese land conditional on Beirut disarming Hezbollah by creating “pilot zones” that the Lebanese military will take over. Netanyahu stated, according to a statement from his office: “Our position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has disappeared. And as long as Hezbollah, armed, is here and threatening us, we will stay here.”
Netanyahu's Message to Iran and Hezbollah
He added: “We say to Iran and to Hezbollah: leave this place, you no longer belong here... There are two sovereign states that want to live in peace.” Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Security Zone and Casualties
Israeli troops are operating in a self-declared “security zone” stretching around 10 kilometers (six miles) deep inside Lebanese territory along the border. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks since the war began on March 2 have killed more than 4,200 people. In the same period, the Israeli military has reported 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed.
