Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz charged Hezbollah with violating the ceasefire on Sunday, threatening to “take action” if the terrorists persisted in breaking the agreement.
After visiting the military’s northern command, Katz issued his warning, which came after Hezbollah chairman Naim Qassem made a similar charge against Israel on Saturday.
According to Katz, Hezbollah has yet to leave southern Lebanon “beyond the Litani river,” as required by the ceasefire agreement.
“There will be no agreement if this condition is not met, and Israel will be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return of residents of the north to their homes,” he continued.
Katz said that other stipulations, such as the “dismantling of all (Hezbollah) weapons and the thwarting of terrorist infrastructures in the area by the Lebanese army,” had not been put into effect.
In a statement released by his office, Katz declared, “We will not permit the establishment of a new threat to the northern communities and the citizens of the state of Israel.”
Qassem said on Saturday that Israel had broken the ceasefire and that the organisation was ready to react before the 60-day deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon had passed.
“We will exercise patience, as we have stated that we are providing an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations and to implement the agreement,” Qassem stated.
Following two months of full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the shaky truce went into force on November 27. Since then, both sides have accused the other of violating the agreement.
As the Israeli army withdraws over 60 days, the Lebanese army is to deploy in the south alongside UN peacekeepers, according to the ceasefire’s provisions.
Hezbollah will remove any surviving military facilities in the south and withdraw its men north of the Litani River, which is around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.
A committee made up of representatives from the US, Israel, Lebanon, and France, as well as a UNIFIL representative, is in charge of making sure that any violations of the ceasefire are found and addressed.
Israel has also been accused of breaking the conditions of the ceasefire on numerous occasions by the UN peacekeeping mission.
