Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told IDF forces in southern Lebanon that Hezbollah has been shattered as Iran’s strongest regional arm — but warned that any remaining threat must be met without hesitation.
Speaking during a visit to southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said Hezbollah was once the central pillar of Iran’s regional axis, with around 150,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel. Today, he said, only about 8% of that arsenal remains.
The prime minister’s message to commanders was clear: if they identify a threat to their security or to the lives of soldiers, they must act immediately and not wait.
Netanyahu also addressed the broader political meaning of Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon, saying that Lebanon and Israel recognize each other as sovereign states. His message to Iran and Hezbollah was direct: they have no place in Lebanon’s future.