Netanyahu Says Israel Will Stay in Lebanon Security Zone

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon on Tuesday with Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai and senior security officials. Netanyahu told soldiers Israel will remain as long as Hezbollah is present and threatening, and ordered them to act immediately when they identify a threat. He said Hezbollah has been reduced to about 8% of its former 150,000-rocket-and-missile arsenal, while the visit included a display of new anti-drone weapons and a review of IDF activity in the area. Holding the buffer zone keeps Iranian-backed Hezbollah away from northern communities while diplomacy tests whether Lebanon can disarm the terror army.