Israel to continue operations in Lebanon despite ceasefire

Israel has announced that it will continue military operations in southern Lebanon for the time being, despite a recently announced ceasefire agreement reached during talks between Lebanon and Israel.

The statement came from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Israeli forces would remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon and continue operations against what he described as militant infrastructure in the area.

His remarks came a day after Lebanon and Israel announced that they had agreed to implement a ceasefire following discussions in Washington. However, the agreement remains contingent on a halt in attacks by Hezbollah.

According to Katz, Israeli troops will remain in the so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, including the area around Beaufort Castle, a historic fortress captured by Israeli forces on Saturday. The defence minister said Israel would continue efforts to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area” and carry out security operations where necessary.

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He also stated that Israel would retain the ability to launch military strikes in response to attacks on Israeli territory and communities. Katz said such actions would be backed by understandings reached with the United States.

Meanwhile, residents displaced from southern Lebanon due to the conflict will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately, according to the minister’s statement. The latest developments suggest that, although a ceasefire framework has been announced, tensions remain high and the situation on the ground continues to evolve.