“Hezbollah is isolated within Lebanon and cut off from its strategic artery in Iran,” Zamir said.
By The IDF Club
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Israel remains fully engaged in active combat against Hezbollah, emphasizing that the main front of the war is now in Lebanon even as a ceasefire has taken hold with Iran.
Speaking during a visit to southern Lebanon on Thursday, Zamir said Israeli forces are continuing operations “with great intensity,” stressing that “the IDF is at war” and remains prepared to escalate again at any moment if needed.
“Our main arena of fighting is here in Lebanon,” Zamir said. “We are continuing to deepen the maneuver and continue to strike Hezbollah. This is a very powerful operation, with our forces operating both on the front lines and deep inside enemy territory.”
Zamir framed the current campaign as part of a broader strategic shift following what he described as unprecedented Israeli achievements against Iran.
“The IDF’s achievements in the war against Iran are unprecedented and historic,” he said. “Iran before this war is not the same Iran. It is much weaker. We struck across its entire value chain.”
He added that the damage inflicted on Iran is now directly affecting Hezbollah’s position, leaving the group increasingly isolated.
“Hezbollah is isolated within Lebanon and cut off from its strategic artery in Iran,” Zamir said. “The Lebanese government understands more than ever the magnitude of the problem posed by a radical terrorist organization operating on its soil.”
Despite the ceasefire with Tehran, Zamir made clear that Israel is ready to resume broader hostilities if necessary.
“We entered a ceasefire with Iran yesterday, but we are prepared to return to intense fighting at any moment,” he said.
During the visit, Zamir conducted a situational assessment and approved operational plans for the continuation of the campaign alongside senior commanders, including Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo and other top officers.
He also praised the performance of IDF units operating in the area, including the 98th Division and the Givati Brigade, commending their “professionalism and determination” on the battlefield.
Referring to recent strikes, Zamir said Israel had delivered a “heavy and powerful blow” to Hezbollah, forcing operatives to abandon key strongholds such as the Dahiyeh district in Beirut and relocate their operations.
“They left Dahiyeh and moved to other locations from which they managed the fighting,” he said.
Zamir reiterated that the objective of the campaign remains the removal of the direct threat to northern Israeli communities.
“The goal defined for you is to remove the immediate threat to the residents of the north, and that is what you are carrying out on the ground,” he told troops.
“As you advance and fight the enemy, when you look back, you see the lights of the communities. That is the purpose of your mission.”
He said Israeli forces are operating as a buffer between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians, with a clear mandate to continue weakening the group.
“Our mission is clear: to continue deepening the damage and to continue weakening Hezbollah,” Zamir said. “In every place, we are required to achieve an advantage and decisively defeat the enemy.”
Highlighting what he described as a strategic opportunity, Zamir concluded that sustained pressure could help restore long-term security for Israel’s north.
“There is an opportunity here,” he said. “We will continue to act to restore security to the residents of the north over time.”
