DM Katz warns: ‘If Lebanon cannot stop Hezbollah, we will take the territory ourselves'
“We promised peace and security to the northern communities, and that is exactly what we will do.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that Israel could take control of territory in Lebanon if the Lebanese government fails to prevent attacks by Hezbollah, following a new round of cross-border escalation.
Speaking after a security assessment, Israel’s defense minister said he had delivered a warning to the Lebanese leadership after heavy rocket fire was launched toward Israel a day earlier.
“I warned the Lebanese president that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel — we will take the territory and do it ourselves,” Katz said.
He added that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for a possible expansion of military operations inside Lebanon.
“The prime minister and I instructed the IDF to prepare to expand IDF activity in Lebanon and restore peace and security to the northern communities,” Katz said. “We promised peace and security to the northern communities, and that is exactly what we will do.”
The warning came after Hezbollah launched heavy barrages of rockets toward Israel on Wednesday, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli military responded with strikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, a known stronghold of the group.
Katz delivered the remarks during a high-level security meeting held Thursday morning with senior defense officials, including Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, and other military and intelligence leaders.
The meeting also included representatives from Mossad and Shin Bet as Israel evaluates its next steps amid ongoing tensions on the northern front.
Israeli officials say the potential expansion of operations is aimed at restoring security to northern communities that have faced repeated rocket attacks since the escalation with Hezbollah intensified.