Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that the country will maintain control of a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, extending up to the Litani River, until the threat posed by Hezbollah is eliminated.

Speaking during a strategic assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior military officers, Katz emphasized that Israeli forces will continue operations in Lebanon with full force against the Iranian-backed group.

“Hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River until the safety of northern Israeli communities is assured,” Katz said.

He added that all bridges over the Litani River previously used by Hezbollah to transport fighters and weapons into southern Lebanon have been destroyed. Israeli forces will now control the remaining bridges and enforce security along the zone up to the river.

“The principle is clear: Where there is terror and missiles, there will be no homes and no residents, and the Israeli army will be inside,” Katz said.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military said troops operating near Mount Dov on the Lebanese side had recently located a Hezbollah tunnel shaft and demolished additional structures used by the group, further tightening Israel’s security measures in the area.