Netanyahu: Hezbollah invasion threat averted

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Israeli forces have eliminated the threat of an invasion by Hezbollah militants during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon, AFP reported.

His visit comes two days before officials from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to hold direct talks in Washington.

"The war continues, including within the security zone in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, in which he appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest and surrounded by masked soldiers.

"What we see is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon through this security zone," he said, adding that he was accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

Netanyahu said that ground operations in southern Lebanon have helped to "limit the danger of rocket fire" from Hezbollah targeting northern Israeli communities, adding that Israeli forces are also "dealing with Hamas" in the area.

"There is still work to be done, and we are doing it," he said.

The Israeli command recorded at least ten rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel on Sunday, but there were no reports of casualties.

On Saturday, commenting on the planned talks in Washington, Netanyahu said that "we want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations."