Katz says Israeli forces have no restrictions in countering threats in Lebanon
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the country’s forces will remain in the buffer zones of southern Lebanon and have full freedom of action to counter any potential threats.
In a statement, Katz said that Israeli soldiers in Lebanon currently have no restrictions in eliminating threats and have never had any.
He also emphasized the Israeli government’s stance, adding that as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clarified, Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zones in Lebanon.
The Israeli Defense Minister is referring to an area about 10 kilometers deep inside Lebanese territory, which Israel calls a security buffer zone and has stationed its forces there.
Katz’s remarks coincide with the start of negotiations between Iran and the United States in Switzerland, where ending the conflicts in Lebanon is considered one of the main topics.
Despite the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese militants on Friday, Lebanon’s state news agency reported that Israeli attacks on Saturday resulted in at least 20 deaths.
Iran views the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon as a violation of the agreement with the United States and has warned that it will refrain from continuing negotiations if the conflicts persist.
Meanwhile, reports indicate a relative reduction in conflicts in southern Lebanon. Ismail Baghaei, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson accompanying the Iranian delegation in Switzerland, said a fragile halt in the Lebanon war has been in place since Saturday.
Simultaneously, a Lebanese militant official told Reuters that the group will remain committed to the ceasefire as long as Israel adheres to it. According to this official, there has been no shooting at Israeli forces since Saturday evening.
A security source also told Reuters that Israel has halted its extensive attacks on Lebanon since that time.
J.D. Vance, the U.S. Vice President, who is in Switzerland for negotiations with Iran, also announced that significant progress has been made in recent days towards establishing peace in Lebanon.
These developments occur as Iran accused the United States of blatant breach of promises and announced that it would close the Strait of Hormuz due to what it calls a violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, although Washington insists that this waterway remains open for shipping.