Israel vows to counter threats in Lebanon with 'full force, both on the ground and from the air'

Israeli military vehicles on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, April 17, 2026. FLORION GOGA / REUTERS

Israel said its military had been instructed to use "full force" against threats in Lebanon despite a truce, and vowed to level homes allegedly used by Hezbollah, with state media reporting demolitions were underway on Sunday, April 19.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the army "to act with full force, both on the ground and from the air, including during the ceasefire, in order to protect our soldiers in Lebanon from any threat."

Katz added that the military had also been ordered to demolish any structure or road that was "booby-trapped" and "to remove the houses in the contact villages near the border that served in every respect as Hezbollah terror outposts."

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