Netanyahu Claims Israel Has Eliminated the Threat of a Hezbollah Invasion

PM Netanyahu (glasses) with Israeli officials and military. (Source: Maayan Toaf/GPO)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces had eliminated the threat of an invasion by the Hezbollah militants, as he visited his troops in southern Lebanon.

The visit comes two days before officials from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to hold direct talks in Washington.

"The war continues, including in the security zone in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, as reported by Al Arabiya from AFP (13/4).

"What we see is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon through this security zone," he said, adding that he was accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Katz and military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

Netanyahu further said that the ground operation in southern Lebanon helped "overcome the danger of rocket attacks" from Hezbollah targeting northern Israeli communities, adding that Israeli forces were also "dealing with Hamas" in the area.

"There is still much to be done, and we are doing it," he said.

Separately, the Israeli Home Front Command recorded at least 10 rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel on Sunday, but no reports of casualties.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war when Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel days after a US-Israeli strike killed Iran's supreme leader at the start of the conflict on February 28.

Israel has responded with massive strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Earlier on Saturday, commenting on the plan for talks in Washington, Netanyahu said "we want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons, and we want a true peace agreement that will last for generations."