Tel Aviv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Sunday that the Lebanese government needs to fulfil its promise to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon. He warned that Israel would escalate its response if this obligation is not met.
Israel has frequently warned that its military might increase attacks on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Despite a ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group in November 2024, Israel retains troops in five southern Lebanon areas and continues regular strikes.
What did Defence Minister Israel Katz declare on sunday?
“Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet,”
Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
“The Lebanese government’s commitment to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon must be implemented. Maximum enforcement will continue and even intensify — we will not allow any threat to the residents of the north.”
How did the IDF target Hezbollah’s Radwan Force operatives?
On Sunday morning, the IDF also announced that it targeted and killed the logistics support officer of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force in southern Lebanon overnight.
According to the statement, the terrorist participated in transferring weapons and attempting to rebuild Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Three more Radwan Force operatives were killed during the strike.
“The terrorists’ activities constituted a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians, and a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel,”
the IDF stated.
How effective is Lebanon’s plan to disarm militias?
The Lebanese government has expressed support for disarming Hezbollah, but the group has significant power and influence, and is also part of Lebanon’s political landscape. The Lebanese Army has a staged plan to disarm militias, including Hezbollah; reports of success have taken place in areas south of the Litani River, likely in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
What threats did Hezbollah issue against the Lebanese government?
Hezbollah has publicly supported the ceasefire, did not oppose the seizure of unmanned weapons caches in the south, and has not fired on Israel since the November truce.
However, it emphasises that the disarmament, as stated in the text, only pertains to southern Lebanon and suggests that conflict could occur if the state took action against the group.
Conversely, Hezbollah has instilled fear of civil war by warning in August that if the government tries to confront or eliminate the Iran-backed group, “there will be no life in Lebanon.”
“This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together, or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the side opposing us and try to confront us and eliminate us,”
Naim Qassem, its leader, stated in a televised speech.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
