Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a halt to fighting in southern Lebanon, reportedly following requests from the United States. The order, delivered to troops in the afternoon, triggered anger in the field as Israeli forces were operating close to one of Hezbollah’s important headquarters in the Litani area.
IDF correspondent Yossi Yehoshua told i24News that the army opposes the ceasefire and wants to keep operating in the same area. He said the site is a major Hezbollah hub where quadcopters, drones and anti-tank missiles are launched, calling it the group’s “central nervous system” in that sector. “But now the instruction is to stop,” he said.
Yehoshua said soldiers feel the decision has “tied their hands” and leaves them unable to fight as they believe they should, while also exposing them to danger. He argued that restricting the army to removing only immediate threats strips the IDF of its technological and firepower advantages against a guerrilla force fighting on its home terrain. He added that the area includes trapped militants and cannot be effectively struck from the air to secure a decisive result.
He said commanders are urging, “Give us back our freedom of action,” but for now that has not happened. The article noted that two more IDF soldiers were killed over the weekend in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein of Herzliya and Staff Sgt. Nir Ben Ari of Kerem Maharal, while the army continued targeting Hezbollah terror infrastructure. Yehoshua also warned that Iran is succeeding in driving a wedge between Israel and the United States, and said the ceasefire serves the American interest poorly because it strengthens Hezbollah and weakens the Lebanese government. A similar order was reported during the past week amid ceasefire talks with Hezbollah.
