What is the story about?
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday paid a surprise visit to southern Lebanon alongside senior military and defence leadership. While addressing the Israeli troops in the region, Netanyahu stated that the war is far from over.
He boasted about the Israeli might and said that the Jewish nation's enemies are "now fighting for survival". According to the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Head of Northern Command Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo during the visit.
"I am here with the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commanding General of the Northern Command, the Division Commander, and our reservists. There is a wonderful spirit here and a willingness to fight - and they are fighting well. The war continues, including within the security zone in Lebanon, where I was just an hour ago," the Israeli premier told the troops.
After the visit, Netanyahu went to an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) outpost near the border, where Galilee Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gez briefed him on the division's operations.
Emphasising the country's strategic objectives, Netanyahu maintained that Israel has successfully prevented a potential cross-border invasion from Lebanon through the establishment of a security zone.
"What we are seeing is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon thanks to this security zone. We are pushing away the danger of anti-tank fire and addressing the high-trajectory rockets, but there is still work to be done. We have done enormous work, achieved tremendous accomplishments, and there is more to do, and we are doing it," he said.
"One of the things we see here is that we have essentially changed the face of the Middle East. Our enemies - Iran and the Axis of Evil - came to destroy us, and now they are fighting simply for their own survival. We see this in every single arena," he furthered.
The Israeli Prime Minister called the operation "a massive achievement for the State of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces, our regular troops and our wonderful reservists." "The people of Israel salute you," he concluded.
He boasted about the Israeli might and said that the Jewish nation's enemies are "now fighting for survival". According to the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Head of Northern Command Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo during the visit.
"I am here with the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commanding General of the Northern Command, the Division Commander, and our reservists. There is a wonderful spirit here and a willingness to fight - and they are fighting well. The war continues, including within the security zone in Lebanon, where I was just an hour ago," the Israeli premier told the troops.
ראש הממשלה נתניהו בביקור בדרום לבנון: ״המלחמה נמשכת, כולל בתוך רצועת הביטחון בלבנון. האויבים שלנו - איראן וציר הרשע - באו להשמיד אותנו, וכעת הם נלחמים על ההישרדות שלהם״
1/5 pic.twitter.com/5CFunfANJQ
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) April 12, 2026
After the visit, Netanyahu went to an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) outpost near the border, where Galilee Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gez briefed him on the division's operations.
Netanyahu lauds the Israeli troops
Emphasising the country's strategic objectives, Netanyahu maintained that Israel has successfully prevented a potential cross-border invasion from Lebanon through the establishment of a security zone.
"What we are seeing is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon thanks to this security zone. We are pushing away the danger of anti-tank fire and addressing the high-trajectory rockets, but there is still work to be done. We have done enormous work, achieved tremendous accomplishments, and there is more to do, and we are doing it," he said.
"One of the things we see here is that we have essentially changed the face of the Middle East. Our enemies - Iran and the Axis of Evil - came to destroy us, and now they are fighting simply for their own survival. We see this in every single arena," he furthered.
The Israeli Prime Minister called the operation "a massive achievement for the State of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces, our regular troops and our wonderful reservists." "The people of Israel salute you," he concluded.
