Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces in Lebanon have standing authority to act against threats, including Hezbollah militants, without restriction. In a statement, Katz says there has “never been” and is “currently no restriction” on IDF soldiers operating inside Lebanon to “eliminate threats.” He adds that Israeli troops remain deployed in what Israel calls a security zone, which extends roughly 10 kilometres (about six miles) into Lebanese territory, and that Israel will not withdraw from that zone as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz have said.
The remarks come as violence continues alongside a recently announced ceasefire. A ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on Friday after months of escalating violence, according to Reuters and other summaries provided. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 20 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency NNA, as reported in the supplied accounts.
Separately, Katz’s comments are also mentioned as following an Iranian warning that it would not join broader talks with Washington unless the war in Lebanon ends.
