Israel announces ceasefire in Lebanon, keeps military positions
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it had received instructions from the country’s political leadership to halt military operations in Lebanon, while stressing that it would continue to act against what it described as immediate threats.
The announcement came after Israel’s Channel 12 reported that, under directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Israeli army had suspended its military operations in Lebanon.
According to the channel, the decision does not include a withdrawal from territories entered by Israeli forces since March.
The report added that the instructions followed coordination between the Israeli political leadership and the United States.
Channel 12 also stated that the Israeli military would not withdraw from southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire decision.
Meanwhile, the Israeli news website Walla reported that the Israeli army chief of staff had ordered a ceasefire in southern Lebanon following a security assessment meeting.
However, an Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that Israel would respond forcefully if Hezbollah launched new attacks.
In recent days, the Israeli military intensified its airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in dozens of deaths on Friday and Saturday. Israel said the strikes targeted infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.
Following several airstrikes carried out on Saturday, the Israeli military reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in line with directives from the political leadership, adding that it would continue efforts to remove any threat to Israel and its forces.