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“Hezbollah chose to attack Israel in the service of its Iranian masters and will pay the full price,” Katz said.
By United with Israel Staff
At a Memorial Day ceremony, Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a forceful warning to Hezbollah leadership, making clear that Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon will continue despite the current ceasefire.
Speaking at an event honoring Israel’s fallen, Katz tied the sacrifices being commemorated to the ongoing fighting, saying Israel remains committed to securing its northern border and removing long-standing threats.
“Hezbollah chose to attack Israel in the service of its Iranian masters and will pay the full price,” Katz said.
He accused former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah of having “destroyed the Shiite community in Lebanon,” and warned that his successor, Naim Qassem, “will lead it to further destruction and pay with loss of territory and homes, just as Hamas has in Rafah and Beit Hanoun.”
Katz escalated his rhetoric further, warning that Hezbollah’s leadership would ultimately face the same fate. “Until he too pays with his head,” he said.
The defense minister emphasized that Israel’s strategic objectives in Lebanon remain unchanged. “The overarching goal of the campaign in Lebanon is the disarmament of Hezbollah and the removal of the threat to northern communities,” he said.
He added that Israeli forces continue to operate both defensively and offensively in the region, including within a security zone in southern Lebanon, in order to prevent infiltration, rocket fire, and attacks on Israeli civilians.
Katz also stressed that Israel will not return to the pre-October 7 security reality, saying the military will continue to act “from within enemy territory” when necessary to protect Israeli communities.
Katz made clear the ceasefire does not change Israel’s goals. The fight will continue until the threat is gone.
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