Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he had issued directives to the army to continue strengthening the security zone in southern Lebanon, noting that battles are still continuing there and are concentrated in the Bint Jbeil area. Netanyahu said that Israel is "prepared for the possibility of renewed fighting in Iran and is ready for all scenarios," adding that his country's goals and those of the United States are the same with regard to the Iranian file. He stressed that Israel's goal in any negotiations related to Lebanon is to dismantle Hezbollah, stressing the pursuit of sustainable peace from a position of strength. He pointed to negotiations being held with Lebanon, which are the first of their kind in more than 40 years, pointing out that their goal is to disarm Hezbollah and reach sustainable peace.