Katz threatens to eliminate Hezbollah if drone attacks from Lebanon do not stop

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to respond “with full force” if drones are launched towards the occupation state from Lebanon.

“I want to send a clear message from here to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government: Israel won’t agree to drones being launched from Lebanon. We won’t allow a return to the reality of October 7 [2023]. We will foil threats and respond with full force,” Katz said.

“Either there won’t be drones, or there won’t be Hezbollah.”

Katz’s statements were made during a tour of Israeli military positions on the border with Lebanon yesterday, where he assessed the security situation with a number of officers and military officials, with the aim of following up on the implementation of the extension of the ceasefire arrangements, according to a statement issued by the Israeli Defence Ministry.

During the meeting, Katz stressed what he described as Israel’s “zero tolerance policy” against any violations by Hezbollah, praising what he considered “the army’s efforts to protect the northern settlements.”

Israel has violated the terms of the ceasefire with Hezbollah over 800 times since the end of September. Occupation forces were also due to completely withdraw from southern Lebanon by 26 January – 60 days after the ceasefire came into effect – however they didn’t  comply with the deadline and the White House announced that a new date of 18 February had been set for the withdrawal.

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