Israel Braces for Hezbollah Provocations Ahead of Ceasefire Deal

With the signing of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah approaching, Israeli security officials believe the group will try to provoke Israel and widen the fighting in order to derail the deal. The assessment in Israel is that Hezbollah will carry out provocations designed to lure the IDF into broad strikes, then portray Israel as the side violating understandings.

The article says the situation is especially sensitive in recent days, with unusual activity on the ground. Israeli intelligence fears Hezbollah’s goal is to blur the impact of Israeli attacks and undermine the emerging arrangement.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded sharply, warning against any attempt by Hezbollah to exploit the situation to attack northern Israel. “The only way, for every shot toward our territory, ten buildings will fall in the Dahieh. Tonight,” he wrote.

At the same time, IDF briefings indicate Israel is preparing for the political leadership to halt the advance of forces in southern Lebanon so as not to harm the agreement being developed with the United States. The report says this could affect continued operations on the ground. Meanwhile, the IDF said it struck more than 70 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours, including rocket launchers, buildings used by militants, and positions threatening Israeli forces and northern communities. In parallel, Division 36 is deepening efforts to clear an extensive tunnel network under the Beaufort Ridge, where maps were found that reportedly reflected an Iranian plan to capture northern Israel.