Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to keep Israeli troops in the south Lebanon security zone “for as long as necessary” to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah, as the issue threatened to derail talks between the US and Iran, which began in Switzerland earlier in the day.

Israel and Hezbollah traded heavy fire over the weekend, killing several IDF soldiers and dozens of Lebanese, though the fighting halted midday Saturday after Israel’s political leadership instructed the IDF to “hold its fire,” reportedly under heavy pressure from the US, which feared the collapse of the Iran talks.

Israel and Lebanon, meanwhile, are set to hold another round of direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, with the IDF reportedly pushing for intensified negotiations in fear that the US-Iran talks could effectively hamper its ability to act against Hezbollah.

“We have achieved tremendous accomplishments, and we will not relinquish them,” the premier said in a Hebrew-language statement Sunday afternoon.

“We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary, in order to protect the dear residents of the north and all the citizens of Israel [from Hezbollah attacks],” he added.

“As prime minister of Israel, I insist on this unequivocally, and nothing will change it,” Netanyahu said, alluding to his conflict with US President Donald Trump over Israel’s fight against the Iran-backed terror group as Washington looks to sign a comprehensive agreement to end hostilities with Tehran.

“As long as we need to protect our people, we will remain in the security zone in South Lebanon,” he reiterated at an address later Sunday, saying: “The reason is perfectly understood. No country would be asked to do otherwise.”

“What would America do?” he asked rhetorically. “Would it say, ‘Well, there’s nothing we can do? Let’s hold our fire’? Is that what America would say? No! You know damn well what America would do. It would cross the border, create a security zone, kill the terrorists, and protect its people until the threat is removed. That’s exactly what we are doing.”

Netanyahu’s comments were preceded by a similar statement from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who said Sunday that the military’s objective in southern Lebanon remained “clear and unchanged — defending the northern communities and the citizens of Israel.”

“We are directing all of our efforts to that end. The activity in the Ali Taher and Beaufort........

© The Times of Israel