TEL AVIV - Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, has declared that the nation’s military is under orders to deploy “full force” within Lebanon, a directive that remains active even during the current ten-day truce. This stance underscores a readiness to retaliate with significant power should Israeli soldiers perceive any threat on the ground. The declaration appears to cast a shadow of uncertainty over the durability of the ceasefire, which began on April 17, halting weeks of intense clashes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The core signal is Israel's explicit threat to abandon the current truce and escalate military action if its soldiers' security is compromised. This indicates a preemptive strategy where perceived threats, rather than solely active hostilities, could trigger a substantial military response.
While the stated aim is self-preservation of its troops, the pronouncements carry significant implications for the fragile peace. Reports indicate that some displaced residents have returned to southern Lebanese towns like Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil, areas that saw heavy fighting and significant Israeli strikes, including on bridges across the Litani River, effectively isolating parts of the region. This return is marked by hesitation, a palpable uncertainty about the longevity of the current lull in violence.
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The situation also brings into focus an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on April 18, which resulted in the death of one French soldier and wounded three others. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to press Lebanese authorities for accountability in this incident.
This development follows earlier statements, including those attributed to Benjamin Netanyahu around April 9, questioning the existence of a ceasefire and ordering ministers to pursue direct talks aimed at disarming Hezbollah. These earlier statements coincided with indications of potential US-brokered talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, a development neither side had publicly confirmed at the time. Pakistan had also reportedly been engaged in mediation efforts.
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