PM Netanyahu visits IDF troops in southern Lebanon, says war continues as enemies 'fight for survival' despite Iran ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited IDF troops deployed in southern Lebanon on Sunday afternoon and told them that although there is a “shaky ceasefire with Iran,” the conflict is ongoing and “our enemies are now fighting for survival.”

Netanyahu was accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Northern Command Head Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo, and Galilee Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gez, who briefed him at an IDF position near the border.

Speaking to members of the press during the visit, Netanyahu described “a magnificent spirit” among the troops. "There is a magnificent spirit here and a readiness to fight, and they are fighting well. The war continues, including inside the security zone in Lebanon, where I was just a short while ago."

"What we are seeing is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon thanks to this security zone. We are pushing away the danger of anti-tank fire and addressing the high-trajectory rockets, but there is still work to be done. We have done enormous work, achieved tremendous accomplishments, and there is more to do, and we are doing it," he continued.

He said Israel had "essentially changed the face of the Middle East," before adding, "Our enemies – Iran and the Axis of Evil – came to destroy us, and now they are fighting simply for their own survival. We see this in every single arena. This is a massive achievement for the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces, our regular troops and our wonderful reservists. The people of Israel salute you."

The Israel Defense Forces have deployed a large ground force into southern Lebanon, including the elite 98th Division made up of paratroopers and commandos. The operation also involves the 91st, 36th, and 146th Divisions, along with additional supporting units operating across multiple sectors of the border area.

According to military statements, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is also carrying out expanded strikes in coordination with ground operations, as military attention shifts toward Lebanon following a pause in operations against Iran.

The ground troops, supported by the IAF, armor and artillery units, are carrying out targeted raids on Hezbollah weapons depots and rocket launching sites, clearing Hezbollah positions, taking control of strategically important villages like Bint Jbeil and establishing a forward defensive line in order to push Hezbollah away from the border and prevent them from firing anti-tank missiles and rockets into Israeli communities at point blank range.

The strategic goals of this campaign, according to IDF statements, is to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons depots, rocket launching sites, tunnels and training grounds for the elite Radwan Force commando units.

The overall, big-picture objective is to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River and prevent them from re-establishing themselves south of it in the future, or, if possible, eliminate the organization altogether. As part of the effort, Israeli officials have signaled they may prevent Lebanese civilians from returning to areas south of the Litani, citing past claims that Hezbollah used civilian populations as cover for its activities.

The broader objective is to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River and prevent its return south of the area, with some officials signaling a long-term Israeli military presence in parts of southern Lebanon, according to military officials.

The ongoing fighting has displaced more than one million residents from southern Lebanon, according to local reports, with casualties reported on both sides. There have also been casualties among the UNIFIL forces deployed in the area, with Israel and Hezbollah each blaming the other for incidents involving the peacekeeping mission.