Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a firm statement today (Sunday) clarifying Israel’s policy regarding the current ceasefire agreements. He made it clear that despite diplomatic reports, the IDF remains deployed in its positions in the security zone on the Yellow Line in Lebanon, and that there will be no withdrawal from the territory captured so far in the campaign.
Defense Minister Katz noted that the fighting on the ground has not stopped and that there is no restriction on the activities of the forces to remove threats. In his statement, the minister noted: “There was and is no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon to act to remove threats.” According to him, the IDF’s powerful activity in response to the attack on our forces led to the elimination of many Hezbollah terrorists and the destruction of extensive terrorist infrastructure.
The minister emphasized that the ceasefire does not change the military deployment on the ground: “The ceasefire announced yesterday leaves the IDF in all positions in the security zone that protects the northern settlements.” Katz concluded with a clear message to the political echelon and the public: “As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have made clear, Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon.”
In recent months, the IDF has entered Lebanese territory to create a buffer zone that will prevent Hezbollah’s leadership from carrying out attacks against northern communities. The move was accompanied by fierce battles on the border line and deep inside the territory, which led to Israeli control of the “Yellow Line” in Lebanon.
As mentioned yesterday, the political echelon announced a ceasefire beyond the Yellow Line border in Lebanon, following Iranian threats to blow up the negotiations due to Israeli attacks on the state of Hezbollah. At the same time, despite the political echelon’s instructions for a ceasefire beyond the “Yellow Line”, the IDF clarifies that it is working to eliminate threats and is committed to protecting the residents of the north. About threats from other arenas, including Iran, it was stated that the army is on very high alert and is prepared for any scenario, including a return to intense fighting if necessary.
Since the beginning of the fighting, the IDF has been working to create a forward defense zone that will prevent the IDF from firing on northern communities. The recent events, which included hitting a tank from the 52nd Brigade and hand-to-hand combat, are part of a broad attempt to neutralize Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure, which includes long strategic tunnels.
Last night, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin revealed that in the Tibnit area in southern Lebanon, significant activity has been taking place in recent days against Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure, which is more than a kilometer long. Dozens of Hezbollah terrorists are currently surrounded inside the area after fighting that took place above and below ground.
“There is a drama going on there at the moment,” Dufferin said in a briefing to reporters, noting that it involves “very significant underground infrastructure” and “super significant infrastructure” inside the village, and added: “At the moment, dozens of terrorists are besieged in the area. There was fighting above and below the ground. They are under pressure and are currently surrounded.” The IDF is linking the pressure Hezbollah is under in the Tibnit area to the increased rate of fire in recent days. Dufferin described that “what is bothering Hezbollah is the takeover in Tibnit and the other areas in which we operate,” and emphasized that the activity is being carried out for operational reasons only: “There are only professional and business considerations here. The infrastructure there is very heavy.”
