Despite diplomatic claims that a ceasefire deal signed with the United States also covers Lebanon, Israeli forces in southern Lebanon say nothing has changed on the ground. The article says troops are still operating up to the “yellow line,” continuing normal combat activity, destroying terror infrastructure, and following the same orders if they encounter militants: shoot to kill.
The report says the gap between international statements and the lack of new instructions has created confusion among commanders and soldiers. Those who have led significant battlefield gains are now asking what will happen next and what those achievements will mean after the fighting. One soldier said, “We have not lowered our alert level. We are still acting as if the threat is at our doorstep, exactly as before. We are skeptical and waiting to see what happens.” Another said, “Everything we did here for two months, and the guys before us too, we did a lot of work there.”
The uncertainty on the ground tracks the diplomatic talks behind the scenes. U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped the situation in Lebanon could be resolved because “this is something that never ends,” adding that Hezbollah must be spoken to. Two senior American officials said an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is not a condition of the agreement, and that Israel retains the full right to self-defense and retaliation if Hezbollah attacks. They also said the memorandum of understanding will be published openly and transparently, with no side deals.
On the other side, Reuters quoted a Hezbollah official saying Iran postponed signing the deal until Friday to monitor whether Israel is complying with the ceasefire. The official said Hezbollah’s position on the ceasefire depends entirely on Israel meeting its commitments. For now, the fighters remain on alert, with many unanswered questions about what comes next.
