Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday during a briefing with military correspondents that the IDF is preparing to act independently in Iran and that the military is just waiting for the order. Katz added that any rocket fire directed at an Israeli community will be answered with a devastating strike in the Dahieh.
"People should not hold their breath waiting to see where Israel will withdraw from next in Lebanon, because that will not happen until Hezbollah disarms," Katz said. He added, "We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah disarms, we will not retreat an inch."
Minister Katz further noted that he met on Friday at the Kirya (Israel's military headquarters in Tel Aviv) with the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. Katz said, "I agreed with him that the IDF will not withdraw from the three security zones – in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The soldiers of the Lebanese Armed Forces will not suddenly turn into lions and charge at Hezbollah. The IDF's presence in Lebanon will be long-term."
Minister Katz explained that the IDF evacuated approximately 700,000 Shiites from the Dahieh, alongside another 600,000 residents from southern Lebanon. "The 200,000 residents who lived in southern Lebanon have not returned and will not return to the Yellow Line. This area must remain free of population. A civilian population means terrorism, explosive devices, and casualties. The IDF is now operating in an area with no residents. True, there are drones, there are clashes, but there are no residents, so this is nothing like the old security zone era."
"It was clear during Operation Silver Plow that the Shiite villages along the contact line had to disappear," Katz added. He noted, "We are currently in a situation where there is nearly 100% destruction in the contact-line villages of the western and central sectors. In the eastern sector, we are at 73% of villages destroyed. Seizing territory and dismantling all infrastructure within it is the heaviest blow possible for jihadist organizations."
The Defense Minister addressed the decision to deepen the ground maneuver to the Beaufort Ridge, claiming that after consulting with the IDF Chief of Staff on the matter, he had to pull Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of his court trial to discuss the issue. Katz emphasized that the Americans were updated before the operation, and that the Beaufort Ridge is now included in the updated drawings of the Yellow Line. According to Katz, the goal was never to capture Nabatieh, as conquering it would have required mobilizing additional forces. "There is a vast tunnel network in the Ali Taher Ridge. To blow it up, we will need 400 to 500 metric tons of explosives," he noted. He also revealed that Israel offered the Lebanese government and its military to take responsibility for the Ali Taher Ridge as part of assuming control over the territory, but the Lebanese Armed Forces refused.
"When President Trump linked Iran to Lebanon, we stopped toppling buildings in Beirut," Katz said. He added, "The connection between the theaters is an American interest, and these are the constraints of our partnership with the United States. Therefore, we moved to Plan B – deepening the area of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon." According to the minister, "Connecting the theaters prevented a decisive blow against Hezbollah across all of Lebanon. I believe it would have led to the collapse of Hezbollah. Such blows could have created pressure to disarm Hezbollah. Connecting the theaters saved Hezbollah from a definitive blow. But now, the leverage is strong, and there is heavy pressure to disarm Hezbollah. Our objective is to achieve the demilitarization of Hezbollah."
"We will not retreat an inch until Hezbollah disarms," the defense minister asserted, stating that the current mission will be to clear Hezbollah from the Litani River. "I harbor no illusions, the entity that will have to do this work is the IDF," he noted. According to defense establishment estimates, there are approximately 1,200 terrorists between the Yellow Line and the Litani River, and another 1,300 terrorists up to the Zahrani River, totaling about 2,500 Hezbollah terrorists from the Yellow Line to the Zahrani River.
"There is no reality in which Israel will not respond to an Iranian attack," Katz emphasized regarding the strategic equations. He stressed, "The equation stands – rocket fire on Israeli communities means an immediate assault on the Dahieh." He further noted that Iran is applying pressure on the US, and that "the possibility exists that Iran will attack Israel not only in response to strikes in the Dahieh. We could find ourselves at war with Iran tomorrow."
The minister repeated his warning, stating, "If Iran fires missiles at Israel, Israel will strike back with immense force inside Iran." Minister Katz further clarified, "There are two scenarios that would resume full-scale fighting – a decision by President Donald Trump or Iranian missile fire. This could happen in two days." According to Katz, "The IDF is preparing to act independently in Iran, for a blue-and-white operation. The IDF is just waiting for it. We have selected targets to strike in Iran, and the IDF is prepared and alert, but we will not interfere with the US President's current moves vis-a-vis the Iranians."
Katz also commented on the southern front, stating, "If it is declared that Hamas failed to meet the conditions, we will decide how to implement our response. At the moment, we do not have the window for an operation in Gaza, but we possess the capability to step up our gear in the Gaza Strip, both on the ground and through targeted assassinations."
