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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said its military has “no restrictions” regarding its efforts to target Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel’s continued operations against the militant group have strained the U.S.-Iran ceasefire reached last week.
“The directive from me and the Defence Minister to the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] is clear and has not changed: our forces in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat against them or against the residents of northern Israel. The IDF faces no restrictions in this matter,” Netanyahu said in public remarks.
“I stand behind them, and the entire nation stands behind them,” he added.
For weeks, Israel has launched offensive strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing dozens, including civilians with recent attacks. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) occupy a security zone that serves as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration helped author a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that ensures the creation of “pilot zones” in which both Beirut and the IDF have agreed to use to work towards driving out the militant group.
“I remain firm in my position that we will stay in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect the residents of the north and all citizens of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said on Monday.
President Trump has intervened amid the fighting by urging Iran to stop its proxies in Lebanon from “causing trouble” and directing Netanyahu to stand down on offensive strikes.
On Friday, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew their ceasefire while the U.S. began a 60-day negotiating period with Tehran to ensure a long-lasting peace deal.
Less than 24 hours after agreeing to the ceasefire framework, Israel on Saturday struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the militant group’s Friday attack resulting in the death of 4 IDF soldiers within the security zone.
The IDF said hundreds of other explosive drones and rockets targeted at Israeli civilians in violation of the ceasefire.
Updated at 11:50 a.m. EDT
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