JERUSALEM — Israel has approved the continuation of military operations in southern Lebanon despite a U.S.-backed framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, with Israeli officials saying forces will continue acting against what they describe as threats from Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved plans for “continued operations in the security zone” in southern Lebanon, while the army maintained that its actions were consistent with the terms of the ceasefire arrangement. Lebanon and Israel reached the agreement through U.S.-mediated negotiations, which included provisions for reducing tensions and establishing conditions for a broader security arrangement.
Israeli officials have said the agreement depends on Hezbollah ending military activity and withdrawing from areas south of the Litani River. Defense Minister Israel Katz previously said Israeli operations would continue until Israel’s security conditions were met, including the removal of Hezbollah infrastructure from the area.
The agreement calls for a phased process in which the Lebanese Armed Forces would expand control in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces would progressively redeploy under agreed conditions. The framework also includes efforts toward a longer-term security arrangement between Israel and Lebanon.
Lebanon has criticized continued Israeli military activity. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the agreement had created political divisions inside Lebanon and argued that it would not be implemented in its current form. Hezbollah has rejected the framework, while Lebanese officials involved in the negotiations have supported efforts to restore state control over the south.
The Israeli military has reported targeting Hezbollah facilities and positions in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese authorities have reported Israeli strikes in the area. The two sides have disputed aspects of the military activity and responsibility for ongoing incidents.
The latest agreement follows months of fighting linked to wider regional tensions and aims to establish conditions for a ceasefire and eventual normalization. The United States has been involved in mediating the process, including discussions on security arrangements and implementation mechanisms.
As of Tuesday, Israeli forces remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon, and officials from the involved parties have continued to differ over the interpretation and implementation of the agreement’s terms.
