Israeli defense minister says no ceasefire until Hezbollah disarmed, beyond Litani

Israel’s new defense minister told senior military commanders Wednesday there would be no easing-up in the war against Hezbollah as he toured the northern border with Lebanon.

“We will make no ceasefires, we will not take our foot off the pedal, and we will not allow any arrangement that does not include the achievement of our war objectives,” Israel Katz said on his first visit to the border region since his appointment.

“We will continue to strike Hezbollah everywhere,” Katz added.

Following Katz’s comments, the Israeli army said air raid sirens were activated across central and northern Israel, adding that it had intercepted some of the “five projectiles” that had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

Katz, who had been foreign minister, was appointed defense minister last week after his predecessor Yoav Gallant was sacked.

He told army chief Herzi Halevi: “We have struck Hezbollah with heavy blows and eliminated (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah — and now is exactly the time to continue striking them with full force in order to realize the fruits of victory.”

He said that Israel would not “allow any (ceasefire) arrangement that does not include achieving the objectives of the war,” including “disarming Hezbollah, pushing them beyond the Litani River,” which flows across southern Lebanon, “and creating conditions for the safe return” of residents of northern [Israeli] towns and villages to their homes.