Israel Halts Fire in Lebanon Under Netanyahu and Katz Orders, Warns Hezbollah Attack Will Be Met Forcefully

Israeli forces were ordered to stop firing in Lebanon on Saturday under instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, after Hezbollah launched 147 rockets, 20 drones and nine anti-tank missiles overnight toward IDF troops from the so-called yellow line area. A senior political source said Netanyahu had instructed the army to respond forcefully to any Hezbollah attack and to remove threats to Israeli troops. “In response to Hezbollah’s attacks over the past two days, the IDF struck 300 terror targets and eliminated about 100 terrorists,” the source said. “If Hezbollah attacks us again, we will strike it again with force.”

A senior military source said, “We are currently in a ceasefire within a ceasefire.” The IDF said the main operational focus of Hezbollah’s Badr force is in the village of Teibnin on the Ali Tahar ridge, where 30 militants are trapped in tunnels. According to the army, Hezbollah is trying to stop the IDF from completing the encirclement of those tunnels and is fighting with flat-trajectory fire, mortar shells and drones. Troops have been told to hold fire, but they may shoot to remove threats in the yellow line area and immediate threats north of it. The IDF stressed that its forces are not advancing north.

Since overnight, the IDF has carried out broad strikes around Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh. Because the government does not want the fighting to escalate, the army has avoided striking the Bekaa Valley and Beirut. Lebanese reports said the strikes had killed at least 12 people by morning, likely many more, including a Lebanese army soldier near Nabatieh and a Hezbollah member in Qanarit, where eight people were wounded.

Lebanese media later said that 16 people were killed in morning strikes and 12 wounded, while around 50 civilians were evacuated. Four of the dead were said to be from the same family. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered at US direction, took effect on Friday at 4:00 p.m. Israel denied Lebanese claims that the air force struck the Bekaa Valley. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the army can fire anywhere to remove a threat, and beyond the yellow line only when there is an immediate danger. He added that Israeli forces are finding Iranian-controlled weapons and infrastructure intended to threaten northern Israel.