Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Israeli soldiers deployed near the border with Lebanon that their mission there “is not completed” and that “there could be a heated summer” ahead.
Gallant, who made the comments during a tour of north Israel, nonetheless reaffirmed that Tel Aviv does not want a war with Lebanon.
In a conversation with the soldiers, Gallant added, “We’ve pushed Hezbollah back from the friction zones to a significant distance, but that doesn’t mean it no longer has a presence in this sector.”
He also noted that for northern Israelis to be able to return to their homes, “an agreement (with Lebanon) or a mode of action would be necessary.”
“It is the army’s duty to prepare the operational process,” the Israeli minister said, while stressing that “Tel Aviv seeks to avoid war, but will engage in it if it is the last resort” to secure its northern border.
Gallant then stressed, “You’ve proven yourself until today. Now we need to get ready for the future, and this summer might be a heated summer.”
