Defense Minister warns: We don't need approval to remain in Lebanon

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Thursday morning that Israel is acting entirely independently regarding its military presence and the expansion of the security zone in southern Lebanon, Israel National News reported.

Addressing Israel's operational freedom, Katz said: "We did not ask anyone for permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon. It is our right and our duty to protect the residents of the Galilee and the citizens of Israel from the threats posed by the jihadist terrorist organization Hezbollah, which seeks to destroy the State of Israel."

Recalling the beginning of the conflict, he stressed, "The Hezbollah terror group attacked Israel on its own initiative twice: after Hamas' murderous October 7 attack, and at the start of Operation Roaring Lion in Iran, when, under orders from the Iranian terrorist regime, it began firing at the State of Israel."

"Israel responded with force and, over the past two and a half years, destroyed most of Hezbollah's capabilities and its leadership, chief among them arch-terrorist [Hassan] Nasrallah, one of the architects of the plan to destroy Israel."