The IDF Spokesperson announced today (Monday) that in the last 24 hours, “the IDF acted in response to Hezbollah operations that posed a threat to Israel and violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.” The announcement comes after criticism from France and the U.S., claiming Israel breached the ceasefire agreement. Reports indicated “visible and audible violations of the ceasefire agreement, particularly the return of Israeli drones over Beirut,” as published by Ynet citing “sources familiar with the details.”
IDF Spokesperson: Hezbollah’s Actions Posed a Threat to Israel
The IDF clarified that its actions in Lebanon were due to threats against Israel and emphasized that Hezbollah is the one violating the understandings of the ceasefire agreement.
The statement noted:
“Last night and this morning, the IDF operated following several Hezbollah actions in Lebanon that posed a threat to Israel and violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
The operations included:
– Striking military equipment used near Hezbollah’s missile production infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley.
– Targeting military assets at facilities near the Syrian-Lebanese border in Al-Hermel, used for transferring weapons and posing a threat to Israel, thus violating the understandings.
The IDF acknowledged claims that a Lebanese soldier was injured in one of the strikes, stating the incident is under investigation. Additionally, it reported that “the IDF acted to neutralize several Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon throughout the day” and that “the IDF is deployed across southern Lebanon and operates against any threat endangering the State of Israel.”
Government Source: “Israel Acts According to the Understandings. This Is the Time to Establish Red Lines”
A government official addressed the accusations of violating the ceasefire, saying:
“Israel is operating under the side agreement reached with the Americans. According to the agreement, if there is an immediate and time-sensitive threat, Israel has the right and ability to act at its discretion to neutralize the threat. We are determined to enforce the arrangement strongly to establish facts on the ground,” the source told Maariv reporter Anna Barsky.
“Now, in the initial phase of the agreement, we are setting red lines. Especially in these early days, the mechanism must be established to function smoothly moving forward,” the official concluded.
Foreign Minister: “Hezbollah’s Presence South of the Litani Is the Greatest Violation”
This morning, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, responding to France’s allegations regarding Israel’s supposed ceasefire violations.
During the call, Sa’ar emphasized that Israel is not violating the ceasefire with Hezbollah but rather enforcing the breaches of the terrorist organization, which has failed to uphold its commitments under the agreement. He pointed out that Hezbollah operatives are armed and present south of the Litani River or are attempting to smuggle weapons southward in trucks.
“Their very presence south of the Litani is the most fundamental violation. They must move north,” Sa’ar stressed in his conversation with the French foreign minister.
Sa’ar further stated that the Lebanese government must clearly authorize the Lebanese Army to carry out its responsibilities under the agreement and enforce Hezbollah’s violations. He added that while Israel is interested in the successful implementation of the ceasefire understandings, this requires fulfilling commitments—and Israel will not accept a return to the pre-war situation.
