Israel Katz: We will stay in Syria "as long as we need to"

Defense Minister Israel Katz laid out the government's defense policy today (Monday) in brief during a Knesset event commemorating the wounded from wars and from terrorist attacks.

Katz said that the "most important, most moral, most obligating" mission for the IDF is the complete return of every single hostage from Gaza back to their homes.

Regarding Lebanon, Katz said that the IDF is enforcing a policy of "maximum enforcement and zero tolerance" for any violation of the ceasefire and that Israel is determined to keep Hezbollah beyond the Litani River.

The Defense Minister said that Israel would continue to hold onto the ground taken in Syria "in any time frame required" in order to protect the residents of the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel generally.

Katz said that aside from the importance of returning the hostages to their homes, Israel will not allow any terror organization to threaten Israel in the Gaza Strip and would continue to pursue the goal of destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities "to the very end."

Regarding the threat from Yemen and the Houthis, Katz said that Israel would continue to strike at the Houthis and not reconcile to a reality where Israel is hit with missiles and drones from the south, and that the Houthis would learn their lesson not to attack Israel just as other terrorist groups have.