Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz officially denied rumors of a ceasefire on the Lebanon-Israel front. In his statement, the head of the military department confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue active combat operations against the armed formations of the Hezbollah movement.

Strategy: Border Security and Disarmament

According to Katz, the action strategy was coordinated at the highest level, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the army command. The main principle of the campaign links the security of Israeli border settlements with the destruction of enemy strongholds. The minister clearly stated that there is no ceasefire regime inside Lebanon.

During the operation, the Israeli side focused on targeted pressure on Hezbollah infrastructure in the Dahiyeh area. This led to a massive displacement of the civilian population: according to Israeli sources, about 600,000 out of 950,000 residents of the area have left their homes. Katz emphasized that this scenario was previously communicated to the US administration and the Lebanese government.

Campaign Goals: From the Litani to Full Disarmament

Israeli leadership has outlined clear timeframes and tasks for the current military campaign:

  • Short-term goal: Demilitarization of the zone from the current line of contact to the Litani River and establishing reliable control over border security.
  • Long-term goal: Complete disarmament of all Hezbollah formations.

Condition for Reducing Strike Intensity

The Israeli Ministry of Defense stated that the pace and intensity of further attacks will depend directly on the actions of the enemy. The official position boils down to a simple principle: if shelling of Israeli territory ceases, pressure may be adjusted. In the event of new attacks being detected, the IDF will continue to inflict massive strikes on targets in Dahiyeh.

At the time of publication, no official comments from Hezbollah leadership or representatives of the Lebanese government regarding the statements of the Israeli Defense Minister had been received.