Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Thursday that Israeli forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon and continue military operations, a day after Lebanon and Israel announced a US-brokered ceasefire framework.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire on condition that Hezbollah fully halts fire and withdraws from south of the Litani River, with both sides committing to establish pilot zones under exclusive control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, according to a joint statement with the US State Department on Wednesday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday the ceasefire would take effect within 24 hours of approval by all relevant parties, labeling the latest round of negotiations as the “last opportunity to enter into a final and comprehensive ceasefire, with each party bearing responsibility in the event of non-compliance.”
Hezbollah has yet to issue any official position on the agreement.
In a statement, Katz said Israeli troops would stay in areas they currently occupy in southern Lebanon and continue “dismantling terrorist infrastructure in the region.” He added that the US supports Israel in striking Beirut in response to any attacks, and that displaced Lebanese civilians would not be permitted to return to areas under Israeli military control for the time being, Reuters reported Thursday.
Lebanon and Israel affirmed they held “no hostile intent” toward each other and discussed a security framework which included the “dismantlement of non-state armed groups, and the prevention of their re-emergence,” according to the tripartite statement.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rejected the agreement outright, calling it a “serious mistake” in a Thursday post on X. He argued that Hezbollah has not withdrawn from the area south of the Litani River, asserting that the Lebanese army lacks the capability to force an evacuation. Ben Gvir also demanded that the cabinet put the ceasefire to a formal vote.
The US reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in strengthening their capacity to exercise sovereignty across Lebanese territory. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that Hezbollah is not only an enemy of Israel and America, but of Lebanon itself.
The newly announced agreement was reached after another two days of US-hosted talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington DC, amid a series of ceasefire extensions since April that have not materialized on the ground.
On the ground, Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs last Monday, a day after the Israeli military announced it was expanding ground operations in south Lebanon and seized the historic Beaufort Castle.
Israeli strikes also hit several towns on Thursday in the Nabtieh district and western Bekaa, according to media reports.
