On northern border, Netanyahu says IDF's anti-tunnel operation almost over

Netanyahu praised the IDF for what he called “extraordinary work that has taken the tunnels away as a weapon for Hezbollah.”

By HERB KEINON
Updated: DECEMBER 26, 2018 05:02
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits northern border to view results of Operation Northern Shield (photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI / DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits northern border to view results of Operation Northern Shield
(photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI / DEFENSE MINISTRY)
The operation to uncover and destroy Hezbollah’s attack tunnels from Lebanon is “mostly behind us,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.
Netanyahu’s comments came during a security cabinet tour of the areas in the North where the IDF has been active over the last three weeks against the tunnels as part of an operation dubbed “Northern Shield.” Four tunnels have been exposed.
“The IDF briefed us on its actions to neutralize the tunnels,” Netanyahu said. “This operation is mostly behind us.”
Netanyahu praised the IDF for what he called “extraordinary work that has taken the tunnels away as a weapon for Hezbollah.” He said the terrorist group had invested heavily in the tunnel project, and that the IDF has “destroyed it.”
The ministers were briefed on the operation by Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot and other senior officials. The tour came a day after the coalition heads decided to go to early elections.
Just over a month ago, Netanyahu, in a prime-time address to the country, argued strongly against going to elections, saying cryptically that the country is in the midst of a complicated security situation that may necessitate “sacrifices.”
“We will overcome our enemies,” he said. “I say this, my friends, without minimizing the challenge before us, and I tell you beforehand that this will involve sacrifices, but I have no doubt that with the courage of our soldiers [and] the strength of our citizens, we will overcome our enemies.”
When the operation against the tunnels was launched some two weeks later, many said this was the complicated security situation that Netanyahu had referred to at the time.