Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo held a high-level consultation on the security situation along the Lebanese border, according to a joint statement released after the meeting.

The four officials reaffirmed Israel’s intention to continue military operations against what they described as threats posed by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“The IDF will continue to act decisively to thwart threats to our soldiers and civilians, destroy terror infrastructure, and continue maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon,” Netanyahu, Katz, and Zamir said in the statement.

The statement underscored Israel’s determination to preserve its military posture in the area, amid ongoing tensions along the border and continued exchanges of fire involving Hezbollah.

“The prime minister, the defense minister and the chief of staff clarified that the security of Israel’s civilians and IDF troops will continue to remain before their eyes without compromise,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country has no intention of withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah continues to operate in the country, arguing that any pullout would be impossible under the current circumstances.

Speaking to Army Radio, Smotrich said Israeli troops would remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon, including the Beaufort Ridge, for as long as Hezbollah maintains a presence there.

“That is simply not going to happen,” he said, referring to a potential Israeli withdrawal. “There will be no pullout from the security zone in Lebanon, including the Beaufort Ridge, as long as Hezbollah remains in Lebanon.”

Smotrich argued that Hezbollah must be completely dismantled before any discussion can take place regarding future security arrangements.

“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. It must be dismantled. It cannot remain part of the Lebanese government, nor can it retain any military capability or ability to threaten the State of Israel,” he said. “Only then can we begin discussing new security arrangements.”

He emphasized that dismantling Hezbollah goes beyond disarmament, saying the group must also lose its political influence within Lebanon.

“When I say dismantled, I do not mean merely disarmed,” he said. “It must be stripped not only of its weapons but also of its political power. As long as Hezbollah retains any capacity to threaten residents of northern Israel, and as long as this government remains in office, there will be no withdrawal.”

Addressing the possibility of U.S. pressure to redeploy Israeli forces as part of broader diplomacy involving Washington and Tehran, Smotrich said Israel has made its position clear to the United States.

“We are standing firm on this position,” he said. “We have made that clear to the Americans.”