Netanyahu says 'war continues' despite talks scheduled next week

BEIRUT — Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Sunday that “the war continues” in Lebanon, “including in the security zone,” during an unprecedented visit to southern Lebanon since the resumption of the war against Hezbollah on March 2, according to a video released by his office.

These statements come as Lebanon and Israel are due to begin direct negotiations in Washington on Tuesday to end the war.

“We have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon thanks to this security zone,” he added, after stating the previous day that an “eight to ten kilometre security buffer zone” had been created inside Lebanese territory.

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“There is still work to be done, and we are doing it,” Netanyahu said in Hebrew, according to the Times of Israel.

“We are pushing back the threat of anti-tank fire and we are also dealing with rockets, but there is still work to be done,” he continued.

In the video, whose location was not specified, Netanyahu appears wearing a bulletproof vest and surrounded by Israeli soldiers reportedly taking part in the invasion of southern Lebanon. The Israeli Prime Minister visited southern Lebanon on Sunday accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, according to Israeli public radio KAN.

Lebanon has received external signals this week indicating that Washington had secured an Israeli de-escalation in Beirut and its southern suburbs, at least for the time being. The idea would be to return to the status quo prior to Hezbollah’s entry into the war on March 2, during which more than 2,000 people were killed by Israel in Lebanon, according to an updated figure from the health ministry. Lebanon, for its part, is maintaining its demand for a real truce or even a full ceasefire during negotiations with Israel.