Katz: Hezbollah Will Be Destroyed If It Launches Drones

Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, warned that his country would respond 'with full force' to Hezbollah's efforts, a group supported by the Islamic Republic, to launch drones into Israel and violate the ceasefire. According to a statement issued by Katz's office on Sunday, February 3, during a visit to Israeli army positions in southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire extension, he referred to 'recent attempts to launch drones into Israel' and warned that Israel would neutralize threats and respond 'with full force.' Based on the ceasefire agreement, Israeli and Hezbollah forces were required to evacuate southern Lebanon by February 26, but this date has been extended to March 19. Naim Qassem, the current Secretary-General of Hezbollah, had previously threatened that if Israeli soldiers did not withdraw from southern Lebanon before the deadline set in the ceasefire agreement, this Iranian proxy group would resume its attacks on Israel. Katz issued a 'clear message to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government,' stating that a drone launch from Lebanon towards Israel would not be tolerated, saying, 'We will not allow the events of October 7 [2023] to be repeated. We will neutralize threats and respond with full force.' Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and more than 250 others, including the elderly, women, and children, were taken hostage. Katz also criticized the slow deployment of Lebanese army forces in southern Lebanon and the continued presence of Hezbollah in the area. The Israeli Defense Minister warned that if a drone were launched into Israel, Hezbollah would be destroyed. He stated, 'Either there will be no drone, or there will be no Hezbollah.' Katz addressed the successor of Hassan Nasrallah, the deceased Secretary-General of Hezbollah, reminding him not to underestimate Israel's resolve, or else he would pay a heavy price. Heavy Israeli airstrikes in southern Beirut on October 6 of this year resulted in the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and several other senior officials of this Iranian-supported group. Shortly after, Hashem Safi al-Din, a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel: The Iranian regime provides tens of millions of dollars to Hezbollah. Netanyahu: I will discuss confronting the Iranian regime's terrorism axis in Washington. Eyal Zamir will begin his role as Chief of Staff of the Israeli army next month. Herzog: The Iranian regime is the hub of anti-Semitism and terrorism.