Foreign Minister Israel Katz Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that in the event of a breakdown in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are ready to strike at targets in Lebanon that are not affiliated with Hezbollah. He said this during a visit to the northern border on Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post reports.
“If the ceasefire fails, Lebanon will no longer be immune,” Katz said. He added that Israel will not return to the days when “minor” rocket attacks or border violations, such as the establishment of illegal camps, were ignored.
The minister made it clear that from now on Israel will not separate Hezbollah’s actions from the responsibility of the Lebanese state.
Violation of the agreement and Israel’s response
The announcement comes after Hezbollah violated the ceasefire by firing two mortar shells towards the Golan Heights on Monday evening. In response, the IDF launched large-scale air strikes to prevent further violations.
Despite these threats, Katz’s remarks differ from the IDF’s traditional stance, which has focused over the past 14 months exclusively on strikes against Shiite areas controlled by Hezbollah, avoiding targets belonging to Sunnis, Christians or Palestinians in Lebanon.
Complications in Lebanon
To date, there is no evidence that the official Lebanese government has supported Hezbollah’s actions. However, the Israeli side has repeatedly complained about the Lebanese army’s inability to control Hezbollah’s actions. The Lebanese armed forces are much weaker than Hezbollah, which still has tens of thousands of fighters and remains the strongest military force in the country.
Political implications
Katz’s statements may be an attempt to put pressure on Lebanese actors to ensure more stable implementation of the ceasefire. However, they could also indicate a disagreement between the defence minister and the IDF leadership, which has a more reserved approach to the situation.
This is not a new position for Katz: shortly after his appointment, he called for the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, although this was not part of the ceasefire. The tension between Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi is growing amid disagreements over military and political strategy, particularly in the appointment of commanders.
