Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon will continue for the time being, despite a newly announced ceasefire deal mediated by the United States.
Katz stated that Israeli forces will remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon that Israel considers a buffer zone aimed at protecting northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks. The comments came just one day after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire framework following US-led negotiations in Washington.
Under the agreement, the truce is dependent on what the parties described as a “complete cessation” of fire by Hezbollah, along with the withdrawal of its fighters from southern Lebanon. A joint statement also outlined plans to establish “pilot zones” where the Lebanese army would assume exclusive control, excluding all non-state armed groups.
Despite the announcement, violence on the ground continued. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon reportedly killed at least ten people, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli troops in response to what it called violations of the ceasefire arrangement.
Shortly after the agreement was announced, air raid alerts were triggered in northern Israel after what authorities described as a “suspicious aerial target,” though no casualties were reported.
