Israel will disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese government continues its inaction that allows the terrorist organization to rearm and rebuild, IDF spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin threatened in a video statement released on Friday.
Defrin drew attention to the Lebanese government's promises to disarm the group, stating that “contrary to the declaration by the Lebanese government earlier this year, Hezbollah is still operating and conducting attacks from southern Lebanon.”
He pointed out Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild and their attacks on Israel since joining the Iranian regime in launching rockets and drones towards civilian areas on March 2, stating that the attacks are ‘putting both Israeli and Lebanese civilians at risk.’
Included in Defrin’s video statement was a clip of Senior Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa speaking on a podcast during which he admitted that the Lebanese terrorist organization has been actively attempting to rearm and rebuild.
Speaking on an episode of the Lebanese podcast 'Podium,' released on March 22, Safa stated that over the past 15 months, Hezbollah has been “working on building up its capabilities.”
'Hezbollah - does not back down, does not compromise, and does not surrender'
Safa identified three areas where Hezbollah is actively rebuilding. “Firstly, missiles, both in quantity and quality; secondly, attack drones, both in quantity and quality; and thirdly, ground forces of all kinds,” he shared.
He continued to describe Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s support for a move to disarm Hezbollah as “ill-considered,” accusing him of “sitting in a trap” for expressing openness to negotiation with Israel.
Safa decried the Lebanese government’s concrete attempts at taking action against Hezbollah terrorists, describing the recent issuing of arrest warrants as a “very provocative approach,” and lamenting the terrorists being treated as “outlaws.”
Hezbollah’s leadership, Safa asserted, “does not back down, does not compromise, and does not surrender,” even in the face of Lebanese government orders.
He stated that despite IDF action and Lebanese government attempts, he still believed “that the results of this war will be victory for Hezbollah and the leadership of the Islamic Republic.”
Safa added that the terrorist group believed that even preventing Israel and the Lebanese government from achieving their goal of disarming Hezbollah would be considered a victory.
In response to Safa’s statements, Defrin said, “This is exactly what we are operating against as we continue to strike Hezbollah terror targets.”
“If the Lebanese government does not disarm Hezbollah, the IDF will. We will not allow Hezbollah to rearm, and we will continue operating in order to protect our civilians on our northern border,” he warned.