Israel’s far-right finance minister boasts of army’s destruction of Lebanese infrastructure
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has defended Israel’s agreement with Lebanon by openly saying the Israeli military continues to control territory inside the country.
Smotrich said the army “controls a security strip in Lebanon” and is “deepening the destruction of infrastructure along its length and breadth above and below ground”.
His comments underline Israel’s refusal to withdraw from Lebanese territory and its continued destruction inside the country despite diplomatic efforts.
Smotrich said Hezbollah “hasn’t been eliminated yet, but it has been severely struck”, adding that there was “an international commitment to its elimination” and to preserving “Israeli freedom of action to thwart threats and prevent buildup”.
He said Israel would remain in the security zone until then.
Smotrich also said Iran was “much weaker than it was on the eve of the war – militarily, governmentally, and economically”.
