IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has stated that although Israel has been engaged in war for nearly 15 months, the conflict is still ongoing. However, both Hamas and Hezbollah have been effectively neutralized militarily.

“This is a long war, and I cannot say we see it ending,” Halevi said during a ceremony for wounded soldiers at Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv. “But after the heavy prices we have paid, we are also seeing results. The military arm of Hamas has been defeated. Hezbollah has been completely routed.”

Earlier, during a visit to southern Lebanon, Halevi noted that while Hezbollah had been militarily defeated, Israel’s victory was not yet complete.

“The way to truly win over Hezbollah — because we won militarily, our victory is quite clear — but true victory, victory that is long-term, that means lots of civilians here, lots of tourism here, that there will be restaurants here, and cafes, and people will go on bike rides, and the agriculture here, everything will prosper,” he said, seemingly referring to northern Israel.

Halevi repeated these comments at Sheba Medical Center, as reported by Ynet, and emphasized that Israel’s security situation on the Golan Heights has significantly improved. He likely referenced the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and Israel’s control of parts of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

“We’re fighting on all the border, and operations are also taking place very far away from Israel,” he added, presumably referring to Israeli military operations in Yemen and Iran.

{Matzav.com Israel}