Israel 'Rampant' Again, Authorises Shoot-to-Kill Against Lebanese Citizens
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has asserted that the Tel Aviv military has full freedom to take any action without restrictions in Lebanon. This aggressive stance remains permitted in order to eliminate any potential threat, as Israeli forces are confirmed to continue guarding the border security zone.
The announcement surfaced shortly after a ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah officially took effect on Friday. However, the peace framework was immediately tarnished after Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 20 people in Lebanon on Saturday.
“All achievements of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in the military campaign in Lebanon will be maintained and fully preserved,” Katz stressed in an official ministry release regarding the military’s bargaining position following the ceasefire.
Tel Aviv argued that the deadly strikes on Saturday were a legitimate response to militia forces firing projectiles at their troops in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, a senior Hezbollah official stated the group is fully committed to the ceasefire as long as Israel also respects the rules on the ground.
The Hezbollah official also firmly rejected Katz’s unilateral claim and stressed that Israeli military forces have no right to freedom of movement within sovereign Lebanese territory in the south. Separately, internal security sources reported that no further major attacks have been launched by either side since Saturday evening at 6.30 p.m. local time.
This quiet period without major combat marks the longest pause in hostilities since the ground war between Hezbollah and Israel first erupted on 2 March. Despite the conducive situation, the Israeli military has refused to confirm the exact time their cessation of hostilities began.
Authorities in Tehran have stated that the fate of Lebanon’s sovereignty is the main focus of continued peace talks with the United States in Switzerland on Sunday. This follows the signing of a previous framework agreement aimed at ending the large-scale regional conflict that has engulfed the Middle East since late February.
Israeli forces are currently still occupying a security zone extending 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory in the south, under the pretext of protecting communities in northern Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah militias continue to assert their legitimate right to bear arms against occupying forces on Lebanese soil, while pledging to halt rocket attacks into northern Israel.