Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will keep its army in the designated safe sector of South Lebanon for as long as necessary [1, 2].

This stance signals a commitment to a prolonged military presence in Lebanese territory to neutralize threats from Hezbollah and Iran. By maintaining a foothold in the region, Israel aims to secure its northern border against future incursions or rocket fire.

Netanyahu said in a YouTube interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, "We will remain in the security sector in southern Lebanon as long as it is necessary" [1]. This position was echoed by Defence Minister Yisrael Katz, who said Israeli forces would remain in South Lebanon for an indefinite period [2].

The Israeli government views this presence as a strategic necessity. Netanyahu said that taking control of the Shqif Castle represented a decisive shift in the offensive against Hezbollah [3].

However, reports regarding the exact boundaries of this military presence vary. While some sources say Israeli forces will limit themselves to the safe sector [1], other reports indicate that troops have expanded beyond the "yellow line" and moved into deeper parts of South Lebanon [2].

Israel continues to justify these operations as a means to prevent the re-establishment of Hezbollah infrastructure near the border. The government said that the duration of the deployment depends on the security environment and the perceived level of threat from Iranian-backed proxies [1].

“"We will remain in the security sector in southern Lebanon as long as it is necessary"”

The decision to maintain an indefinite military presence in South Lebanon suggests that Israel is prioritizing a physical buffer zone over a rapid withdrawal. This strategy increases the risk of continued friction with Hezbollah and complicates diplomatic efforts to stabilize the border, as the definition of the 'safe sector' remains a point of contention and reported expansion.