"Yesterday we experienced a harsh operational experience, we paid a heavy price, but in we also exacted heavy recompense from the Hizbullah," the Chief of the General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz said in a press conference held in Tel Aviv. "Many terrorists were killed. We do not compare and do not measure our success by the number of killed on the other side, but first and foremost by the reduction of injuries on our side - both citizens and soldiers. The essence of our operation is to protect the State of Israel and its citizens. This is why the military exists. This struggle is an ongoing one, and will continue until we achieve the aims set for us."
Concerning criticism about why Bint Jbeil was not bombed from the air before ground forces entered the site, the Chief of Staff said, "The issue of aerially crushing Bint Jbeil previous to ground forces entering it is a quantitative issue rather than an ideological one. Bint Jbeil was bombed from the air and by artillery to the extent that we calculated to be sufficient. This is not a humanitarian issue, as Bint Jbeil was empty of citizens and surrounded by terrorists both inside and out."
"The aims we have set for ourselves are achievable," noted the Chief of Staff, "the first of which is creating conditions leading to the safe release of the kidnapped soldiers. The second is to remodel the security situation along the border and to prevent the Hizbullah from reaching Israeli territory. The third aim is to weaken the Hizbullah organization, and the fourth is for the Lebanese government to exercise its sovereignty over its own domain and activities that emanate from its territory.
There is no doubt that some of these aims have been achieved, and some are yet to be achieved. I'm certain that blow we have struck Hizbullah at the strategic level is a huge one. Never have so many countries united against this terror organization. The G8 countries, leading Arab countries and many other countries that collectively reached the decision on the basis of everything presented to them in Rome. I do not think there has ever been a situation in which the Lebanese people rejected to the point of revulsion the entity that brought destruction upon their country.
We also hurt their military alignment - hundreds of terrorists from all levels were hit. We will not elaborate on the names of Hizbullah operatives who have been killed, although we possess a large part of this information - names, addresses, who they are, what they are. Additionally, parts of the Hizbullah rocket system have been severely hit, although the Hizbullah still has the ability to launch rockets at Israel. The solution is not solely a military solution. As military, we must create conditions that the political establishment can use as a basis for a political solution."
Concerning the call-up of IDF reserves and its purpose the Chief of Staff said, "There is no automatic draft, and there is no intention of posing a specific threat to anybody. There is a need to be ready to use the forces in different methods and different missions. We must be prepared for this because that is the responsibility of the military, and it is the obligation of the country to give the army this possibility. This allows us another layer of protection and another option for action. We have said more than once: we have no need and no intention of hurting Syria or the citizens of Lebanon. Those who bring about disaster among the Lebanese population are the Hizbullah, who assumed control over a substantial part of the country of Lebanon."