JERUSALEM, Apr 17 : Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz affirming the country’s ongoing war with Hezbollah said that the newly reached 10-day ceasefire with the Islamist militant group that began on Friday was “temporary,” adding that the IDF will not be withdrawing from any of its captured territories in Lebanon, and that its remaining objectives in the country will be completed, reports Times Of Israel.
“The IDF holds and will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and captured,” says Katz in a statement. “The ground manoeuvre into Lebanon and the strikes against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon have achieved many accomplishments, but they have not yet been completed.”
“We are inside Lebanon in the midst of a war against Hezbollah, with a temporary freeze and a 10-day ceasefire,” Katz said.
“The goal we defined – dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons through military or diplomatic means – was and remains the objective of the campaign,” he asserted saying that for completion of this process, Jerusalem remains “committed.
“At present, a significant diplomatic lever has also been created through the direct involvement of the US president and a commitment to this goal, while applying pressure on the Lebanese government.”
The ceasefire which was brokered by the US, has led President Donald Trump to tout direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, which is also one of the major sticking points in the US’ 12-day fragile ceasefire with Iran.
Lauding the IDF’s accomplishments, Katz said that over 1,700 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, and that the buffer zone along the border has been cleared of both Hezbollah operatives and Lebanese residents.
“It will continue to be cleared of terrorist infrastructure, including the destruction of houses in Lebanese border villages that had effectively become terrorist outposts,” he says.
He further acknowledged that the new security zone, created in southern Lebanon – stretching up all the way to the Litani River – still has many armed militants remaining, adding that Beirut and Jerusalem will aim to resolve this issue diplomatically, or else military action will resume.
(UNI)
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