Israel ambassador in Berlin: No permanent occupation of south Lebanon

The Israeli ambassador to Germany has ruled out an annexation of southern Lebanon by his country.

"We will advance as far and remain as long as necessary until the shelling of Israel stops and our residents are safe. A permanent occupation is not planned. Full stop," Ron Prosor told the RND media group in an interview published on Thursday.

His comments contradicted far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had said the Litani River in southern Lebanon should become Israel's new border with its northern neighbour.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Israel only intends to control the area up to the Litani River for the time being.

After the start of the Iran war around a month ago, Lebanon's Hezbollah militia resumed its attacks on Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon. Many towns and villages in the south of the country are considered Hezbollah strongholds.

"Hezbollah has Lebanon in a stranglehold and has built up a terrorist infrastructure in the south of the country," Prosor said, adding that the militia was using civilians as human shields and was continuously attacking Israel.