The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) announced on Monday that it targeted three Hezbollah command centres in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s violations of the ceasefire agreement. Additionally, Israeli forces destroyed a launcher used by Hezbollah. Earlier, the IDF reported the destruction of an underground Hezbollah tunnel in southwestern Lebanon, measuring over 200 meters long and 25 meters deep, housing numerous weapons and launch shafts for potential attacks on Israeli territory and civilians. Despite a US-mediated framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon on Friday, incidents between Israel and Hezbollah persist.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism about the agreement, stating that it could lead to resolving the conflict and eventually achieving peace between the two nations. Netanyahu emphasized that the agreement reinforces Israel and Lebanon while weakening Iran and Hezbollah. He highlighted that the accord acknowledges Israel’s right to maintain a “security zone” in southern Lebanon for its security needs. Netanyahu affirmed that the Israeli military will uphold the “security zone” until Hezbollah and other “terror” groups are disarmed.
Netanyahu outlined that the framework agreement includes specific areas near the northern boundary of the security zone, identified by the Israeli military, where a pilot initiative will commence to disarm Hezbollah and transfer control to the Lebanese army. He claimed that Israel has eliminated over 9,000 Hezbollah militants and neutralized around 90% of the group’s arsenal comprising 150,000 missiles and rockets. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged the agreement, describing it as a step towards “lasting peace and security” between Israel and Lebanon. The agreement, finalized in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of ambassador-level discussions, reiterates the importance of upholding a fragile ceasefire between the two nations.
