TEL AVIV (dpa-AFX) – During a visit to troops in southern Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatened the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. “We have pulled the teeth of the snake, and if Hezbollah stops withdrawing from the Litani River and tries to violate the ceasefire, we will crush its head,” Katz said, according to his office.
The aim of his visit was “to monitor security measures before implementing the next phases of the ceasefire agreement”. The army said a Hezbollah “combat facility” with weapons depots had been destroyed in southern Lebanon.
The pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and Israel largely ended their mutual attacks at the end of November after more than a year with a ceasefire. The agreement stipulates, among other things, that Hezbollah withdraws behind the Litani River about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border. Israel's ground troops are to gradually withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. The Lebanese army should monitor compliance with the agreement./le/DP/he
