“There will be no ceasefire and no pause” in the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.
Following his first meeting on Monday with the IDF General Staff Forum, Katz tweeted, “The impressive and powerful actions carried out by the IDF and security forces against Hezbollah, including the elimination of Nasrallah, represent a victory image, and it is essential to continue offensive operations to further degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities and fully capitalize on the gains of this victory.”
Katz replaced Yoav Gallant as defense minister on Nov. 7, having previously served as Israel’s foreign minister.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut on Sept. 27.
“In Lebanon, there will be no ceasefire and no pause. We will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force until our war objectives are achieved,” Katz continued.
“Israel will not agree to any arrangement that does not secure its right to independently enforce and prevent terrorism, achieve its war objectives in Lebanon, disarm Hezbollah, push them back beyond the Litani River, and allow northern residents to safely return to their homes,” he wrote.
With regard to Hezbollah’s backer Tehran, he tweeted: “Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal—to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel.”
In my first meeting today with the @IDF General Staff Forum, I emphasized: Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal – to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/HX4Z6IO8iQ
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 11, 2024
His comments come amid reports of an emerging ceasefire agreement that would include the IDF having the right to respond to violations, Hezbollah withdrawing north of the Litani River, the Lebanese army dismantling the remaining terror infrastructure and the United States and Russia providing guarantees against Hezbollah rearming.