Benjamin Netanyahu orders total destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli armed forces to completely destroy the infrastructure of the Iran‑backed Shiite movement Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that the order covers both surface facilities and underground tunnels used to launch attacks on northern Israel, stating “Do not leave anything standing.” Netanyahu added that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the area until Hezbollah is fully disarmed, noting that only about 8 % of the group’s original 150,000 rockets remain and that 9,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Lebanon.

Netanyahu also described Hezbollah as the most important link in the “axis of resistance” supported by Iran. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, later said Israeli forces will remain indefinitely in the security zones established in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip to protect civilians from jihadi threats. In a separate interview, Netanyahu warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “calm down,” reminding him that four centuries of Ottoman rule have ended and that Israel will not allow any threat to its existence.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have condemned Israel’s unilateral security zone as an illegal occupation under international law.