Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has visited Israel’s northern border, where he held an operational situation assessment together with senior army officials and troops operating in the area of the Western Galilee.

Gallant held a discussion with army commanders about “the importance of the operational activity conducted to drive Hezbollah forces away from the border area,” Israeli media reports said.

Gallant later visited the Galilee Hospital in Nahariya, where he met with injured troops.

“I am convinced that we will reach the stage when our citizens (in the north) will be able to return to their homes safely – we will achieve this either via military action or via an agreement. It is always better to (reach) an agreement (with Lebanon), but we are preparing for all possibilities,” Gallant added.