Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear Monday that his forces will remain in southern Lebanon despite the recently announced US-Iran-Lebanon “de-confliction cell” formed following the first round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland.

“IDF troops in southern Lebanon have full freedom of operation to engage any direct or emerging threat to them or to the residents of northern Israel,” said Netanyahu, according to a translated video of his Hebrew-language remarks. “The IDF has no restrictions in this regard.”

The de-confliction cell is aimed at preventing a return to full-scale conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah, which Iran claims must be settled before discussions about a larger deal can take place.