Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning to Hezbollah on Sunday, saying that if the armed group did not withdraw all its forces north of the Litani River, Israel would break the ceasefire agreement.
JERUSALEM, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, saying that if the armed group did not withdraw all its forces north of the Litani River, Israel would break the ceasefire agreement.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah must withdraw its fighters and weapons north of the Litani River by January 26. On the same date, Israel must completely withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line, the United Nations-demarcated border between Lebanon and Israel, while the Lebanese army must deploy forces in the region.
Speaking on Sunday during a visit to Israel’s Northern Command, Katz said Israel remained committed to upholding the agreement. “Israel seeks to enforce the agreement in Lebanon,” he said.
However, he affirmed that Hezbollah had not completed the withdrawal of its forces. “If this condition is not met, there will be no agreement,” he said.
The ceasefire agreement ended months of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which began in October 2023. However, Israel has continued limited operations, saying it targets Hezbollah militants who violate the truce . Lebanon and France have accused Israel of dozens of ceasefire violations, highlighting the fragility of the truce.■
