Beirut, Lebanon. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israeli soldiers were free to act without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon, adding that troops remained in position in what Israel calls a security zone. His remarks came as a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah that took effect on Friday appeared to be holding after months of escalating violence.
Ceasefire and recent strikes
On Saturday, Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency NNA.
Israel said the strikes were in response to projectiles fired by Hezbollah at its troops in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what an Israeli official described as “Hezbollah targets”.
Hezbollah position
A Hezbollah official told Reuters that the group was committed to the ceasefire as long as Israel adhered to it, and said Israeli forces did not have the right to freedom of movement in south Lebanon.
The official said Hezbollah forces had not fired on Israeli troops since 6:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) on Saturday.
Military activity since Saturday evening
Security sources told Reuters that Israel had also launched no major strikes on Lebanon since the same time.
That marked the longest period without major strikes since the war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel began on March 2.
When asked by Reuters about the last time Israel fired on Lebanon or engaged with Hezbollah, the Israeli military declined to provide a “specific time”. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claim that it had ceased firing after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Regional context and Israeli deployment
Iranian officials have said Lebanon is the focal point for Sunday’s peace talks with the United States in Switzerland, after Washington and Tehran signed a framework to halt the war between them that began at the end of February and escalated tension across the region.
The Israeli military invaded parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has said it has the right to fight Israeli forces in Lebanon, but would halt attacks on northern Israel.
Katz said Israeli troops would remain in all positions in what Israel calls a security zone extending about 10 km into southern Lebanon.
