Israel has announced that it has safely returned its residents to the north of the country as part of its official war goals.
A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the security cabinet updated its war objectives to include the safe return of residents to their homes in the north.
Around 60,000 people had been evacuated from northern Israel due to near-daily attacks by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in neighboring Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant previously stated that military action was the only way to secure the return of these residents, a sentiment echoed during a meeting with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.
Gallant’s warning came as the defense minister himself appeared to face mounting pressure to adopt a tougher stance on Israel’s approach in the north, as media speculation swirled that Netanyahu was set to fire him amid criticism from right-wing ministers upon which his fragile coalition relies.
