Israel's President Isaac Herzog gives an interview at the president's residence in Jerusalem, March 16, 2026. OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP
Israel's President Isaac Herzog told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday, March 16, that Europe should back his country's fight against Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out ground operations in Lebanon.
In an exclusive interview at his Jerusalem residence, the Israeli head of state also said the US-Israeli war with Iran marked a "historical juncture." "Europe should support any effort, any effort, to eradicate Hezbollah now," Herzog said. "They should understand that if you want to get anywhere, sometimes you need to win war."
Israel's military announced Monday it was conducting "limited" ground operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon to end its rocket attacks.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war when Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israel has carried out extensive air strikes against areas of southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut, mainly saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites or operatives.
