Netanyahu: Hezbollah will get ‘unimaginable blow’ if it attacks
the uncovering of the third Hezbollah attack tunnel is part of the process of “systematically dismantling” these weapons.
By HERB KEINONUpdated: DECEMBER 11, 2018 18:35Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets IDF soldiers, December 11, 2018(photo credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the north Tuesday for the second time in less than a week, said that the uncovering of the third Hezbollah attack tunnel is part of the process of “systematically dismantling” these weapons.Netanyahu said that Hezbollah will “make a big mistake” if it tries to harm IDF soldiers or resist the army's operation to expose the tunnels, and would receive a blow “that it cannot even imagine.”Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Gadi Eisenkot held a security assessment with OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen Yoel Strick, and other senior officers. Netanyahu also met brigade and battalion commanders and soldiers involved in the operation, and then with ocal authority heads in the north.Netanyahu praised the spirit and preparedness of the soldiers and officers.“Hezbollah thought that it was building these tunnels without any hindernance,” he said. “We knew about it, and planned for it, and this did not leak out. We keep the secret , and planned [this operation] carefully.”Netanyahu said the IDF is acting according to plan, and is ready for all contingencies. “There is great firepower here,” he said in a reference to Hezbollah. “We are prepared for it from all directions.”The prime minister said that the operation was proceeding at a “very good pace,” and was even a little ahead of schedule. He said it will continue until Hezbollah's attack tunnel weapon has been “neutralized.”Netanyahu dismissed those trying to minimize the scope or importance of the operation, saying all that is needed to understand its importance is to imagine Hezbollah using the tunnels to infiltrate into Israel and going on a killing and kidnapping spree.I believe Hezbollah understands that we are well prepared for any response they may attempt, and that they understand we have tremendous power here in front of them,” he said.
