Israel is prepared to expand its military campaign against Hezbollah and strike the group at additional locations, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday, a day after Israeli forces demolished a major underground network beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon.

“We are ready and prepared to continue the campaign, to continue striking Hezbollah and at additional locations,” Katz said in a statement.

Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel would maintain control of the area along what it calls the “Yellow Line” in Lebanon and would not withdraw following the destruction of Hezbollah’s tunnels beneath the strategic ridge.

“The mission I assigned to the forces was clear: to destroy the infrastructure at the Ali al-Taher Ridge before Rosh Hashanah, and to redeploy in the area,” Zamir said. “The Yellow Line remains under our full control and unchanged.”

Zamir also called on the Lebanese army to demonstrate that it could effectively enforce its responsibilities, saying this was necessary for progress on an agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

“The Lebanese army must demonstrate effectiveness on the ground,” he said. “Otherwise, it will not be possible to advance the agreement signed between the Government of Israel and Lebanon.”

Zamir visited the area of operations of the army’s 36th Division on Friday. The visit came a day after forces under the division’s command completed the destruction of Hezbollah’s underground routes in the area.

“Last night, we destroyed the underground terrorist infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Heights,” Zamir said. “This is Hezbollah’s main command, control and combat infrastructure, which was built with Iranian support.”

He said Israel would continue to defend communities in the north and respond forcefully to any attacks.

“We will defend our communities at any cost, and the IDF stands as a defensive barrier on the front line,” Zamir said. “Any attack on the northern communities or on the IDF forces protecting them will be met with an immediate and forceful response. The Yellow Line remains under our full control, with no change.”

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had destroyed a major Hezbollah underground complex beneath the ridge, which it said had served as a key command and combat center for the group’s Badr unit. The military said the network extended for more than 2 km and contained rockets, missiles, drones, anti-tank weapons, mines and explosives.

The demolition followed weeks of Israeli operations around the ridge, where Israel said it had established operational control above and below ground.

Zamir also invoked the Jewish New Year which begins this weekend, saying the Israeli military would remain on guard across the country.

“As the new year begins, the entire IDF stands guard over our homeland, from the chief of the General Staff to the last soldier, at the front lines, in command centers and in operational headquarters,” he said.