Netanyahu: Israel to maintain presence in southern Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will continue to respond to attacks by the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and will maintain its military presence in a security zone in southern Lebanon for the foreseeable future.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said he met with Defence Minister Israel Katz and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to assess the security situation following overnight military operations in Lebanon, Caliber.Az reports. 

אני משתתף מעומק הלב בצער משפחותיהם של מפקד גדוד 52 בשריון, סגן-אלוף דור גדליה בן שמחון, ושל שלושה לוחמים גיבורים ששמם טרם פורסם, השם ייקום דמם, ואני מאחל החלמה מלאה לפצועים בחילופי האש אתמול.

בעקבות ההתקפה הנפשעת של חיזבאללה, שהיא הפרה בוטה של הפסקת האש, הנחיתי אמש את צה״ל…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 19, 2026

According to Netanyahu, Israel will not tolerate attacks on its military personnel or territory and will take action against any perceived threats. He added that Israeli forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon "for as long as necessary" to protect communities in northern Israel.

The remarks came after the Israeli military carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon overnight and into the morning. Israeli authorities said more than 80 Hezbollah-linked targets were hit, including command facilities in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.

Israeli officials stated that the strikes were conducted in response to an attack on an Israeli tank unit in southern Lebanon that killed four soldiers, including a battalion commander holding the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Netanyahu described the attack as a violation of the existing ceasefire arrangement and said he had ordered military action against Hezbollah following the incident.

By Sabina Mammadli