Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered extensive military strikes against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon after four Israeli soldiers were killed and several others wounded in overnight attacks by the militant group, warning that Israel would continue to hold its security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary.

In a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu described Hezbollah's attacks as a serious breach of the ceasefire and said Israel had responded forcefully.

"Following Hezbollah's criminal attack, which constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire, I instructed the Israel Defense Forces last night to strike Hezbollah with force," Netanyahu said.

According to the prime minister, Israeli forces targeted more than 80 Hezbollah sites overnight and killed dozens of militants. He added that the military subsequently carried out additional strikes against Hezbollah command centers in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley on Thursday morning.

The escalation came after Hezbollah launched attacks overnight that killed four Israeli soldiers and wounded several others in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate attacks against its troops or territory and vowed a strong response to any future aggression.

"Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or on our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for such attacks," he said.

Reiterating a position he had expressed a day earlier, Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain deployed in the security zone established in southern Lebanon.

"Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary in order to protect the communities of the north," he said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the prime minister's stance, saying Israeli forces would continue operating in southern Lebanon to prevent threats against Israel's northern border communities.

"We will not allow harm to our soldiers and civilians, and every violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah will be met with great force," Katz said in a statement.

He added that the Israeli military would maintain its presence throughout the security zone stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the Beaufort Heights.

"The IDF will remain in the security zone in Lebanon, from the coastline to the heights of the Beaufort, to protect the northern communities, thwart threats, and destroy terror infrastructure in the area, both below and above ground," Katz said.

Moreover, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israeli forces have “complete freedom of action” to respond to any threat in southern Lebanon, despite the ongoing ceasefire with Hezbollah.

He said troops are currently operating in the Beaufort Castle area and along the Ali Taher ridge, where they are working to dismantle what he described as major Hezbollah tunnel networks that function as the group’s “central command hubs.”

According to Defrin, Hezbollah is attempting to obstruct Israeli efforts to destroy these installations.

“Hezbollah is conducting a defensive campaign in an effort to stop our forces from completing the destruction of this infrastructure,” he said.

He added that Hezbollah was responsible for violating the ceasefire and is now seeking to protect capabilities it has built over many years.

“They are the ones who broke the ceasefire. They are trying to defend the assets they developed over time,” he said.

Defrin reiterated that Israeli troops operate with “full operational freedom” to eliminate threats wherever they are identified.

“There are no limitations when it comes to removing threats,” he said.