Jerusalem, April 3 (IANS) Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday reiterated that the country's top objective in Lebanon remains disarming Hezbollah through military and political means. After an assessment with military officials, Katz said, "Israel’s policy in Lebanon has been and remains clear: the top objective is the disarmament of Hezbollah through military and political means, regardless of the Iran issue," 'The Times of Israel' reported.

Katz said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is completing its ground offensive in southern Lebanon up to the line from which Hezbollah can carry out anti-tank missiles attacks against Israel.

"Homes in villages near the border in Lebanon, which serve in every respect as Hezbollah outposts, will be demolished in accordance with the Rafah and Khan Younis model in Gaza, to remove the threat to Israeli communities."

Katz announced that the IDF will "maintain security control" in southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River and will not allow 600,000 residents of southern Lebanon to return until the security of northern residents is ensured, 'The Times of Israel' reported.

"The IDF will continue to target Hezbollah leaders and operatives throughout Lebanon, in addition to the 1,000 terrorists who have already been eliminated since the beginning of the current campaign," Katz said while announcing that IDF will "act forcefully" against Hezbollah's rocket fire on Israel. He stated that Israel will continue to ensure the security of the northern communities as promised.

Earlier in the day, IDF said that 1,000 terrorists, including senior commanders were killed while over 3,500 terror targets were hit over the past month in Lebanon. It mentioned that bridges used for transferring weapons and economy forces were also struck.

"Over the past month in Lebanon: 1,000 terrorists eliminated - including senior commanders. 3,500+ terror targets struck. ⁠5 central bridges used to transfer weapons and enemy forces struck. Key assets and financial storage sites struck," IDF posted on X.

On April 1, IDF claimed that Hezbollah's Southern Front commander Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashem was killed in a strike conducted by the Israeli Navy in Beirut.

"Eliminated: Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashem, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. Hashem, eliminated by the Israeli Navy in a strike in Beirut, was a senior commander with 40+ years of experience, and was a central figure in Hezbollah that led its rehabilitation and commanded attacks toward Israel," IDF posted on X.

--IANS

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