Israeli troops face no restrictions in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire: Minister
Israel’s minister of military affairs says Israeli troops in southern Lebanon face no restrictions in acting against perceived “threats,” stressing that they have no plans for withdrawal despite a ceasefire that recently took effect with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.
“There was and is no restriction on [Israeli military] soldiers in Lebanon from operating to remove threats,” Israel Katz said in a statement on Sunday.
The remarks came a day after a ceasefire entered into force following months of escalating cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite the truce, Israeli forces remain deployed in what Israel calls a “security zone” along the Lebanese border.
“The ceasefire announced yesterday leaves the [military] in all positions within the security zone that protects the northern communities,” Katz said. “Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon.”
He further noted that Israeli troops retained full freedom of action in the area, reiterating the position previously outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The comments followed reports of Israeli air strikes in Lebanon on Saturday that killed dozens of people, as Israel has intensified its attacks on various areas in southern Lebanon.
Fresh Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of at least 16 people, and left several others injured.
The remarks by the hawkish Israeli minister come as the situation in southern Lebanon has emerged as a key issue in talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland.
Tehran has indicated that Israeli attacks on Lebanon will be high on the agenda, warning that broader discussions with Washington would be difficult unless Israeli aggression in Lebanon comes to an end.
On Wednesday, Iran and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) remotely, under which war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, must cease immediately.
Iran has linked the interim agreement to an end to Israel’s attacks across the region.
Tehran has warned that the consequences of Israeli provocations against regional peace and security would be borne by the US and the Israeli regime.
However, Israel, left out of the peace talks, has distanced itself from the US-Iran MoU and continues attacking residential areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.
