Israel will exact heavy price from Hezbollah: Benjamin Netanyahu

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday warned that Israel will not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or its territory, and will exact a “very heavy price’ from Hezbollah for killing four soldiers in Lebanon on Thursday.

“I send heartfelt condolences to the families of the Commander of the Armored Corps 52nd Battalion, Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, and of three heroic fighters whose names have not yet been cleared for publication, may God avenge their blood. I also wish a speedy recovery to the wounded in the exchanges of fire yesterday,” Netanyahu said according to a statement posted by the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister on X.

 “Following the heinous attack by Hezbollah, which is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire, I instructed the IDF last night to strike Hezbollah with force,” he added.

According to him, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) struck over 80 terror targets and eliminated dozens of terrorists. Subsequently, the IDF struck Hezbollah command posts in the Beqaa Valley this morning. Netanyahu also held a situation assessment with the Minister of Defence and the Chief of General Staff.

 “My directive is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” the Prime Minister highlighted.

 “As I have made unequivocally clear, yesterday as well: Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary for the protection of the communities of the North,” he added. (IANS)

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