Zamir from southern Lebanon: "Operations may expand and we will not withdraw before ensuring long-term security"

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir affirmed that his forces continue to prepare for various scenarios on the northern front, noting that military operations in southern Lebanon could expand "if necessary," and that withdrawal from the areas seized by the Israeli army would not take place before achieving what he described as "long-term security."

Zamir made the remarks during a field tour in southern Lebanon accompanied by a number of senior Israeli army commanders, where he said that "the battle on the various fronts is not over yet," urging his forces to prepare for the possibility of continued escalation.

The Israeli chief of staff added that the army is "prepared for any change in the situation" and has readied its forces to deal with "a wide range of scenarios," pointing to the continuation of operations in the areas he said Israeli forces had taken control of.

Zamir also said that the Israeli army is continuing what he described as "clearing the areas of Hezbollah infrastructure," claiming that those sites had been used to carry out attacks and threaten Israeli towns in the north.