Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said on Monday that the Israeli army has begun a ground operation in Lebanon. He added: "The residents of southern Litani will not return to their homes until the safety of the residents of northern Israel is guaranteed." Katz said: The party's Secretary-General, Naeem Qassem, is hiding underground and turning a million Shiites into refugees in their homeland. He continued, saying: "The Israeli army was instructed to move and destroy the Hezbollah structure in the border villages." Katz pointed out that the party “will pay a heavy price for its activity in the Iranian axis.”