Defense Minister Israel Katz said the 10-day ceasefire with Hezbollah is temporary and does not signal an end to Israel's military campaign in Lebanon. He stressed that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from areas they have captured and will continue operations to complete their objectives, using force if necessary.

Katz said the campaign’s central goal remains the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, whether through military or diplomatic means. He noted that direct involvement by the president of the United States has created additional diplomatic leverage, alongside pressure on the Lebanese government, but emphasized that the broader mission is not yet finished.

According to Katz, more than 1,700 Hezbollah fighters have been killed and a buffer zone along the border has been cleared of operatives and infrastructure. He acknowledged that enemy fighters and weapons remain in parts of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, warning that Israel will act diplomatically or militarily to remove them and may resume hostilities if necessary.