Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from southern Lebanon on Tuesday, confirmed that his forces will remain there as long as Hezbollah "poses a threat".
Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office, "Our position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat disappears. As long as Hezbollah exists there, armed and threatening us, we will stay there."
He addressed his forces saying, "Thanks to what you are doing, Lebanon recognizes Israel, and Israel recognizes Lebanon, and we say to Iran and Hezbollah: leave this place, you no longer have a place here ... There are two sovereign states that want to live in peace."
Lebanon entered the war on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei in the first American and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Under the auspices of the United States, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement on Friday, June 26, 2026, following a fifth round of negotiations in Washington.
The governments of Lebanon and Israel affirmed the right of each state to exist in peace and security, and declared their intention to finally end the conflict between them and address its root causes, officially ending the state of war, with emphasis on resolving all outstanding issues through direct bilateral negotiations facilitated and supported by the United States.
The framework agreement provides for a mutual and gradual process by which the Lebanese army regains actual sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, concurrently with the disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantling of their infrastructure, enabling the redeployment of the Israeli army outside Lebanese territory in accordance with security arrangements and verification mechanisms organized by an American-supported security annex.
