Key facts
- Israel is committed to a truce with Lebanon if Hezbollah adheres to the agreement.
- Hezbollah has rejected the ceasefire deal.
- Israel reserves the right to respond to attacks and threats.
- The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to cease fire and withdraw from southern Lebanon.
- Israel will continue military operations and will not withdraw from Lebanon.
Israel has reiterated its commitment to a truce with Lebanon, provided Hezbollah does not violate the terms of the agreement. Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, stated that Tel Aviv will uphold the deal as long as Hezbollah complies, while asserting Israel's right to respond to attacks and thwart threats.
The ceasefire, brokered by the US, requires a complete cessation of fire by Hezbollah and the removal of its operatives from southern Lebanon. However, Hezbollah has officially rejected the agreement, informing Lebanese authorities of its stance. Despite the ongoing cross-border attacks, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated that military operations will continue, and troops will not withdraw from Lebanon. Displaced Lebanese residents will also not be permitted to return south.
Israel plans to continue dismantling what it calls "terrorist infrastructure" and maintains freedom of action to strike in Beirut in response to attacks on Israeli territory. Lebanese Civil Defence has cautioned residents against returning to the south due to ongoing dangers and the risk of unexploded ordnance.