Netanyahu says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon

Netanyahu says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government will continue acting to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, describing it as an existential threat to Israel.

Speaking at the Muni Expo local government conference in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said Israel had carried out numerous operations inside Iran and would continue efforts to stop Tehran from becoming a nuclear-armed state.

Israel and the United States have for years claimed that Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon, though neither has publicly presented conclusive evidence to support the allegation.

Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu also said Israel's military objectives in Lebanon had not yet been achieved, adding that Israeli forces were establishing what he described as a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah attacks across the border.