IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir described the Hezbollah terror group as "exhausted" during a meeting with Israeli soldiers at the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon on Sunday, the military announced.
Zamir noted the significance of Israel having taken the Beaufort area from Hezbollah's control, saying it was "saturated with terrorist infrastructure."
"The military achievements you secured weakened Hezbollah," said Zamir. "It is now relying on its Iranian patron to save it.”
The IDF chief, who toured the region alongside several military commanders, entered an Israeli-controlled Hezbollah tunnel as part of an operational situational assessment.
"The Hezbollah terrorist organization, funded and directed by Iran, spent decades constructing underground tunnels throughout the area to threaten northern Israeli communities," he told the IDF soldiers. "Now, our troops have operational control of this key terrain both above ground and of these underground tunnel networks."
He further spoke of Lebanese commitments under the ceasefire framework arranged via the United States, noting their obligation to "clear the area of Hezbollah terrorists and terrorist infrastructure."
“The IDF will continue to operate decisively to remove threats from Lebanese territory and is prepared to transition rapidly to offensive operations should the ceasefire be violated,” he added.
Zamir emphasized that the agreement with Lebanon would not have been possible without “the courage of our soldiers and the operations led by Northern Command,” specifically thanking the IDF 36th Division for its crossing of the Litani River and actions against Hezbollah.
Netanyahu meets with ministers, defense officials over Lebanon talks
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a small group of ministers and senior defense officials to discuss Lebanon on Sunday evening.
Israel is currently awaiting the green light from the Lebanese Armed Forces and US Central Command (CENTCOM), confirming that the LAF is prepared to enter and take control of the areas selected for the pilot program. The pilot will be conducted in two locations: One outside the Blue Line and one inside it.
At the same time, discussions are continuing on how Israel will verify that the LAF has successfully cleared the area of Hezbollah's presence. Such verification would enable an Israeli withdrawal from the area and allow the pilot program for Hezbollah's disarmament to expand to additional locations.
During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu denied reports that US President Donald Trump was preventing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
"I've heard reports in the media claiming that President Trump asked us not to act against terrorist tunnels in Lebanon. That's a myth, fake news," the prime minister said. "He never raised the issue with me, and I never asked him about it. We operate according to our own considerations."
Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to arrange a meeting between Netanyahu and Trump in the United States. As of now, no date has been set. Trump is expected to be in Turkey next week for the NATO summit, making it more difficult to schedule the meeting.
Additionally, Netanyahu also sought to dismiss speculation about a rift between the two leaders during a Sunday interview with Fox News.
"I don't believe there's any rupture between us. America calls us its model ally because, unlike some other allies, we fight alongside you. Our soldiers have fought shoulder to shoulder. Israel has no better ally than the United States, and the United States has no better ally than Israel," he said.
"Ninety-nine percent of the time, President Trump and I see eye to eye. But, as in any friendship, there are occasional disagreements. We discuss them openly, and we resolve them," he added.