Netanyahu says Israeli troops will remain in southern Lebanon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will continue operating without restrictions in southern Lebanon and will remain in the country's south for the foreseeable future. In a video statement, Netanyahu said he had not changed his instructions to the military, insisting that Israeli troops have "no restrictions on this matter". "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or developing threat to them or to the residents of [northern Israel]," he said.