IDF to Stand Down Northern Alert Units Starting Sunday

The IDF announced on Monday that it will release the northern home-front emergency squads and defense platoons after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and following a revised threat assessment, according to Channel 12. The move comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will keep full freedom of action in southern Lebanon, and as Defense Minister Israel Katz updated that nine more communities have been added to the list of border-adjacent settlements.

Under the IDF decision, the defense teams and their commanders will be discharged as the army shifts to a "green" defensive posture, defined as full routine activity. Preparations for the transition will begin on Thursday, and by Sunday all members of the northern emergency squads and defense platoons are expected to be released.

In his statement, Netanyahu said IDF fighters in southern Lebanon still have complete freedom to prevent any threat to troops or northern residents. He added that Israel will continue to hold the security buffer zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary.

Katz said the newly recognized border communities are Sde Eliezer, Kisra-Sumei, Yesud HaMa'ala, Or HaGanuz, Miron, Bar Yochai, Safsufa, Beit Jann and Hulata. They will be eligible for the benefits and support given to settlements with border-zone status. Separately, overnight a new ceasefire monitoring mechanism for Lebanon was announced, initiated by Qatar and Pakistan, meant to replace the previous framework. That earlier mechanism included Israel, Lebanon, France, the United States and UNIFIL.