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"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a recorded speech on Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are on the verge of 'eliminating' the southern Lebanese municipality of Bint Jbeil. "Our forces are continuing to strike Hezbollah. The fighting is focused on Bint Jbeil," Netanyahu said. "We are about to overcome Bint Jbeil, We are, in effect, about to eliminate this great stronghold of Hezbollah." Bint Jbeil has long been regarded as one of the region's most sensitive flashpoints, including during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, with Tel Aviv claiming the municipality serves as the Lebanese group's 'stronghold.' Netanyahu also announced that he had instructed Israeli forces to continue expanding the 'security zone' in southern Lebanon eastward toward 'slopes of Mount Hermon,' claiming the move will allow Israel to "better assist our Druze brothers in their time of distress." "Concurrently, we are conducting negotiations with Lebanon. These negotiations have not taken place for over 40 years. They are happening now because we are very strong, and nations are coming to us," the Prime Minister added. "In the negotiations with Lebanon, there are two central goals: first, the disarming of Hezbollah, and second, a sustainable peace. Peace through strength," he noted. Turning to Iran, Netanyahu said that Washington is providing Tel Aviv with 'constant updates' on its negotiations with Tehran, emphasising that the United States and Israel maintain 'identical' goals in the region. "It is too early to say how this matter will end, or even how it will progress. In anticipation of the possibility that fighting may resume, we are prepared for any scenario," he continued. A ceasefire between Iran and the US-Israel alliance came into effect last week, though disputes remain over whether it extends to Lebanon. Talks between the sides ended in Islamabad on Sunday without agreement. Meanwhile, rare direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials took place in Washington DC on Tuesday, the first such engagement in decades. Officials described the meeting as 'open, direct, high-level' diplomacy aimed at exploring a possible ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Clashes in Lebanon erupted again on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel, which it said were 'in revenge' for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei."
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