Minister Smotrich in an interview with Arutz Sheva: 'We are clearing a security buffer zone in Lebanon, we will continue to strike Hezbollah, and we will restore security to the residents of the north.'
Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich said in an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that Israel’s military campaign in southern Lebanon is aimed at deepening achievements against Hezbollah and ensuring long-term security for northern communities. “We are cleansing a security zone in Lebanon. There will be no infiltration threat, no anti-tank missile threat. We will continue striking Hezbollah and restore security to the residents of the north," Smotrich said, adding that the campaign is part of what he described as dismantling “the Iranian axis of evil over the past two and a half years."
Smotrich pointed to continued rocket fire from southern Lebanon, including incidents reported in the morning, as evidence of the need to sustain military pressure on Hezbollah. He also referenced indirect diplomatic contacts with Lebanon, saying they reinforce his long-held political outlook. “Even the indirect negotiations that began yesterday with the Lebanese government prove that the right-wing approach over the years was correct. Peace can be achieved through strength, power and victory," he said. “Those who think peace comes through withdrawals and the defeatism of Oslo do not understand the neighborhood they live in."
Turning to Iran, Smotrich said the country had “suffered a very heavy blow," while expressing support for continued pressure. “We hope more is still ahead. Will it surrender under economic pressure, or will we need to force it again with full strength? Time will tell," he said. He added that Israel is working to remove what he described as an existential threat from nuclear development and ballistic missiles, while dismantling regional proxy networks. (Read more)