The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that it will continue military operations in southern Lebanon, asserting its commitment to eliminate immediate threats and respond to any violations by Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese militant group still being in place.
IDF Spokesperson's Statement
In a video statement, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin emphasized that recent Hezbollah attacks, which killed four Israeli soldiers, are unacceptable. He stated that the IDF will persist in its operations in southern Lebanon to prevent further dangers.
“These attacks by Hezbollah are violations of the ceasefire. They prove that Hezbollah's goals remain the same: to remain on Israel's borders and to plan and carry out attacks on our civilians. This is not a reality we can accept, and this is exactly why the IDF continues to operate in southern Lebanon. Recent events have made one thing clear: IDF soldiers must stand between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians,” Defrin said.
He also stressed that Israel will not wait for further escalation. “We will not wait for the next attack to reach our homes. We will continue to remove immediate threats, respond to Hezbollah's violations, and do whatever is necessary to protect our civilians,” he added.
Hezbollah Attacks and Israeli Retaliation
The statement comes after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers overnight. Defrin noted that Hezbollah has carried out “hundreds of explosive drone and rocket attacks” targeting both civilians and military personnel over recent weeks, describing these actions as ceasefire violations.
In response to the strikes, Israeli forces retaliated by targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley. This followed a drone strike by the Lebanese group that killed an IDF tank battalion commander and three other soldiers in southern Lebanon.
Renewed Ceasefire Agreement
Shortly after the retaliatory strikes, a renewed ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hezbollah, aiming to de-escalate tensions. According to CNN, citing multiple sources, the agreement was brokered through mediation efforts involving the United States and Qatar. Another diplomatic source indicated that Iran also played a role in facilitating the deal alongside Washington and Doha.
The ceasefire took effect at 9 am local time. Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed that he had urged Israel to agree to the ceasefire. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he had been in contact with Israel earlier in the day and encouraged its leadership to support the ceasefire effort. However, he declined to confirm whether he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It's a positive,” Trump said, referring to the ceasefire.
