Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli army would respond firmly to any violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah. His comment came after the start of the withdrawal of IDF units from southern Lebanon. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
According to Katz, the military will maintain a presence in five strategic locations in the buffer zone. He stressed that Israel is committed to ensuring the complete security of all communities in the north of the country.
“Hezbollah must retreat beyond the Litani River, and the Lebanese army must fulfil the terms of the agreement, which provides for the disarmament of the militants under international control,” Katz stressed.
He also said that new military posts had been set up on the Israeli side of the border to strengthen defences.
The withdrawal of troops from Lebanon is part of a peace agreement, but Israel is leaving forces in the buffer zone because of the weakness of the Lebanese army, which cannot prevent Hezbollah from strengthening its positions on the border.
