Israel's Defense Minister Warns To Take Firm Action If Hezbollah Breaks The Deal

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Katz said in a statement that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would "firmly" enforce a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, acting against Hezbollah's threat, while their troops remained in five strategic posts.

Under a ceasefire brokered by Washington in November 2023, Israeli forces were given 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon where they launched a ground attack on Iranian-backed fighters from Hezbollah since early October.

The deadline was later extended to February 18, but the Israeli military requested that its troops remain at five posts in southern Lebanon, a source said.

"Starting today, the IDF will remain in the buffer zone in Lebanon at five strategic outposts and will continue to enforce firmly and without compromise any violations by Hezbollah," he said.

"Hezbollah must completely retreat past the Litani River line and Lebanese soldiers must enforce and strip their weapons under the supervision of the mechanism set under US leadership," Katz said.

"We are determined to provide full security to all northern communities," Defense Minister Katz added.

Earlier, Lebanese militant group leader Hezbollah said on Sunday, Israeli forces should withdraw completely from Lebanese territory by January 18, insisting "there is no excuse" to maintain military presence at any post in southern Lebanon.

In a televised address, Secretary General Hezbollah Naim Qassem said: "Israel must withdraw completely on February 18, there is no pretext, no five points or other details, this is the deal."

Qassem said any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after February 18 would be considered a occupation force.

"Everyone knows how the occupation is handled," Qassem stressed, without explicitly threatening his group would continue the attack on Israel.

On Tuesday, Lebanese security sources confirmed the IDF had completed its troop withdrawal from villages in southern Lebanon, but maintained its troop presence in five strategic locations.

"Israeli troops began withdrawing from border villages, including Mais al-Jabal and Blide, as Lebanese soldiers moved forward," said the official, who asked for his identity to be kept secret due to the sensitivity of the problem.

Hours later, a Lebanese security source said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had withdrawn from villages in southern Lebanon, but remained in five positions, a Lebanese security source said, as the deadline ended based on a ceasefire agreement.

"Israeli troops have been withdrawn from all border villages except five points, while Lebanese soldiers are gradually deployed due to explosives in several areas and road damage," the source said.