HIGHPOLITICAL
Defense Minister Katz warns Lebanon: Israel will "take the territory" if Hezbollah attacks continue — IDF told to prepare expansion
·Israel / Lebanon border
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon's president that if the Lebanese government cannot control its territory and prevent Hezbollah from attacking Israel, "we will take the territory and do it ourselves." Katz said he and PM Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to "prepare for an expansion of IDF activity in Lebanon and to restore calm and security to the northern communities." The statement came during a military assessment with senior IDF officers following overnight Hezbollah barrages.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made a direct threat of ground operations in Lebanon during a security assessment on Thursday March 12. "Hezbollah launched heavy barrages toward the State of Israel yesterday. The IDF responded forcefully in the Dahiyeh and against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon," Katz said. "I warned the president of Lebanon that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel, we will take the territory and do it ourselves." Katz confirmed that he and Prime Minister Netanyahu have "instructed the IDF to prepare for an expansion of IDF activity in Lebanon and to restore calm and security to the northern communities." This follows the IDF's wide-scale wave of strikes on Hezbollah overnight and Hezbollah's 200-rocket barrage. The Golani Brigade was previously transferred to Northern Command. The statement signals potential Israeli ground operations in Lebanon — a scenario rated at 30% probability in current outlook assessments.
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