Katz: Israel didn't need permission to enter Lebanon, doesn't need it to stay

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said, in a statement on Thursday, that the Israeli military's operations in Lebanon were a response to attacks by Hezbollah.

"The terrorist organization Hezbollah has attacked Israel twice on its own initiative," Katz said.

"Israel responded with force and, over the past two and half years, has crushed most of Hezbollah's capabilities and its leadership," adding that Israeli forces would remain in their self-declared "security zone" inside Lebanon "as long as necessary" to protect Israel's northern communities.

Katz said Israel has asked no one for permission to enter Lebanon and does not require approval to stay.