Netanyahu seeks Lebanon border "to drive out Hezbollah"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Lebanon's northern border on Thursday and expressed his willingness to continue military operations against pro-Iranian militant Hezbollah.

"The key to restoring northern security and returning residents safely, with or without a ceasefire agreement, is to drive Hezbollah over the Litany River," Netanyahu told soldiers during a patrol of Lebanon's border and being briefed on the situation by the military command.

also stressed, "We must target Hezbollah's attempts to rearm and respond firmly to all movements directed at us."The river

Litani is located about 29 km from the Israeli border toward Lebanon.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, passed after the full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, calls for a ban on Hezbollah's presence south of the Ritani River.

Israeli forces continued their offensive against Hezbollah on the same day, with Lebanon's health ministry saying three people were killed in airstrikes in the southern city of Sidon alone.