Israel will expand the buffer zone in Lebanon while continuing to strike Hezbollah forces, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday evening.
The buffer zone will also be stretched eastward, Netanyahu noted, so that Israel "can better help our Druze brothers in their time of need."
Netanyahu added that the current fighting in Lebanon was focused around the town of Bint Jbail, which he described as "the capital of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon," and added that the IDF is close to taking the town.
The ongoing talks with Lebanon, Netanyahu said, were currently taking place due to Israel's strength. The talks had two purposes: dismantling Hezbollah and establishing a lasting peace. "Peace through strength," Netanyahu noted.
Israel in contact with US over Iran negotiations
Israel was in constant contact with the United States about its negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu said.
"Our goals are identical," he explained. "We want to see the enriched material taken away from Iran, and we want to see an annulment of enriching capability within Iran. We want to see an opening of the Straits."
Israel was prepared for any eventuality, he stated, including a resumption of the fighting.
Earlier that evening, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin also announced that the IDF was ready to attack Iran again if required.
Defrin also said that Hezbollah had been severely weakened during the IDF actions in Lebanon and that the terror group was currently retreating.
"Hezbollah terrorists thought they could hide and be protected and immune," he said. "They are not."