Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz both delivered forceful statements on Wednesday against Iran and Hezbollah during the IDF Officer's Training School graduation.
In his address, the Prime Minister discussed Iran's leadership and the direction it is taking the country. Iran is trying again to develop the bombs of death. Mojtaba Khamenei decided to follow in his father's path, and he pulled the pin," Netanyahu stated.
Netanyahu took an unequivocal stance on the way Israel will contend with the Iranian threat: "There is only one way to remove this threat: toppling the regime in Iran."
Defense Minister Katz expounded on the current security situation and argued that in recent days, Israel has noticed attempts by Iran and its proxies to advance attacks ahead of the elections.
"In recent days we have identified attempts by our enemies, led by Iran and its proxies, to advance attacks that will affect the results of the elections in Israel," Katz stated.
According to Katz, "The Iranian regime is at its weakest point ever, and we see that this weakness could bring it to take the most extreme actions, even against the State of Israel."
Addressing the regime, he stressed: "We see your attempts, we are prepared to foil them and are ready to hit you hard," and added, "If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn."
Katz clarified that his warning was valid for attacks after the elections as well: "Anyone who attacks us, before or after the elections, and anyone who harms IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians, will pay the heaviest price."
In addition to addressing Iran, Katz outlined Israel's position on the continued IDF presence in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.
He said that last week he visited Lebanon and met with commanders and soldiers, both active-duty and reservists, operating in the security zones in Lebanon and Syria. He explained that their mission is to protect residents of the Galilee and the Golan Heights from threats posed by jihadist forces.
"As the Prime Minister and I have made clear: Israel will not withdraw from the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza," Katz said.
The Defense Minister went on to issue a detailed warning to Hezbollah, making clear that if the organization joins an Iranian attack against Israel, the IDF will act to expand the security zone in southern Lebanon.
According to Katz, such an operation would involve incorporating additional territory in the Nabatieh and Litani areas into a permanent Israeli-controlled security zone. He said the IDF is preparing for a ground maneuver that would enable it to implement the plan.
"If the Hezbollah terrorist organization chooses to join Iran in an attack against Israel, it will suffer extremely severe blows," he said.
Katz added that in such a scenario, "Additional territory in southern Lebanon, in the Nabatieh and Litani areas, will become part of Israel's permanent security zone, and the IDF is prepared to carry out the ground maneuver necessary to ensure this."
The Defense Minister also outlined the scale of the planned civilian evacuation under the scenario he described. He said the entire Shiite population in the area extending to the Awali and Zahrani lines would be evacuated northward to enable the IDF to strike terrorist infrastructure and push the drone threat away from communities in northern Israel.
He also warned that "the Dahieh suburb in Beirut will also be evacuated, and its terrorist infrastructure will be struck, and more than one million Shiites will become displaced persons in Lebanon," Katz said.
The Defense Minister then issued a personal threat against Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, comparing his path to that of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, who was eliminated by Israel.
"Just as Nasrallah devastated the Shiite community in Lebanon until he was eliminated, Naim Qassem could bring about its complete destruction, until he too is eliminated," Katz declared.
In the final part of his remarks, Katz addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip and IDF operations in the security zones under Israeli control.
According to figures presented by the Defense Minister, the IDF currently controls a security zone covering nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip. He said the area has been cleared of residents and terrorist infrastructure in order to protect Israeli communities.
Katz added that IDF forces continue to operate daily against terrorists attempting to carry out attacks against soldiers, as well as individuals who participated in the October 7th Massacre.
Regarding those involved in the attack, the Defense Minister claimed that 4,000 have already been eliminated and made clear that Israel intends to continue pursuing the remaining perpetrators.
"Four thousand of them have already been eliminated, and the remaining two thousand will be eliminated as well, wherever they may be," Katz said.