Israel’s Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, claims threat of invasion removed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday claimed that Israeli forces had eliminated the threat of an invasion by Hezbollah during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon.

His visit comes two days before officials from Lebanon, Israel and the United States are due 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, which showed him wearing a flak jacket and surrounded by masked soldiers.

“What we are seeing is that we have thwarted the threat of an invasion from Lebanon through this security zone,” he said, adding that he was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. –Agencies