Israel ready to implement Lebanon ceasefire – Netanyahu

Any violation of the looming deal, however, will be met with full force, the Israeli PM has warned

Israel is close to implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon, where the country has been waging a campaign against the political and militant group Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday.

Netanyahu made the remarks in a televised address following a meeting with his security cabinet. The ceasefire deal is almost ready, with only final approval from the government needed, he revealed. He did not provide any timeframe, stating only that “the duration of the ceasefire depends on what takes place in Lebanon.”

“With the full understanding with the US, we are maintaining full freedom of action” against Hezbollah, Netanyahu warned, promising to respond “with force” to every potential violation of the ceasefire. 

“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he stressed. “If it tries to rebuild the terror infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it fires a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles, we will attack.”

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According to media reports, the agreement is expected to take effect tomorrow at 10am local time. Israel will withdraw its forces from Lebanon over a 60-day period, while Hezbollah, as well as any other Lebanon-based armed groups, are prohibited from staging any attacks against the Jewish State. The US has also reportedly pledged to facilitate talks between the two countries to establish a properly recognized border.

Israel had been waging a low-intensity campaign against Hezbollah for months before September, when it sabotaged thousands of the group’s communication devices and launched a major bombing campaign in Lebanon, followed by a ground operation.

Netanyahu lauded the operation as a success, stating Hezbollah has become significantly weaker since the start of the hostilities, with “years of terror infrastructure” destroyed, as well as thousands of fighters and most of its leaders killed.