(FILES) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in a press conference with US President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025. US President Donald Trump said on October 8, 2025 that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first phase of his Gaza peace plan, hailing it as a “historic and unprecedented” step to ending the two-year-old war. Palestinian militant group Hamas would release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed on line, Trump said after talks in Egypt on his 20-point peace plan resulted in a deal. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he had ordered the military to “further expand” a security zone in Lebanon as Israel continues its campaign in the neighbouring country.
“In Lebanon, I have just ordered the military to further expand the existing security zone,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
“This is intended to definitively neutralise the threat of invasion (by Hezbollah militants) and to keep anti-tank missile fire away from the border.”
Netanyahu, during a visit to the northern command, said that Hezbollah still retained “residual capabilities” to fire rockets at Israel, but the group had been severely hit by Israeli forces.
“Iran is no longer the same Iran, Hezbollah is no longer the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is no longer the same Hamas,” he said.
“These are no longer terrorist armies threatening our existence — they are defeated enemies, fighting for their own survival.”
“We are determined, we are fighting, and with God’s help — we are winning,” Netanyahu said.
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