Response to Hezbollah Violation Without "Collapsing the Agreement": "No One Is Standing Over Us With a Stopwatch"
A day after Hezbollah violated the ceasefire, Israel is preparing a series of responses. Defense sources emphasize there is no desire to collapse the agreement at this stage, but the IDF is ready for all scenarios.
A day after the ceasefire violation by Hezbollah, Israel has yet to decide how to respond. Sources in the defense establishment are preparing a series of possible responses against the terrorist organization, but the assessment is that there is no desire at this stage to completely collapse the framework of the agreement and the pilot project launched about a week and a half ago. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense remain silent.
Security sources stated:
"We will respond to Hezbollah's violation, and when it happens, it will be known. No one is standing with a stopwatch on when to respond. The timing will be suitable for us, there will be a response, and there are several ways to do it."
According to them, if the agreement collapses, "we will respond accordingly." The incident occurred on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Ali-Taher ridge area, where forces of the 36th Division are operating. During a patrol, a Hezbollah explosive drone attacked an unmanned engineering vehicle. There were no casualties. This is the most serious incident since the ceasefire came into effect.
Sources explain that there is an American mechanism for examining events, and it is important that everything be coordinated. The range of options is broad—from an attack in Beirut or Baalbek to blowing up terrorist infrastructure that the IDF had held off on due to sensitivity. The pilot project will be reviewed in about two to three weeks to decide whether to expand it to other areas.
Meanwhile, work on the "yellow line" continues. Engineering, infantry, and armored forces continue to destroy sites and degrade Hezbollah's capabilities. The IDF's goal is for the entire area north of the Litani to be demilitarized.
Yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited southern Lebanon together with Northern Command Commander Major General Rafi Milo and 91st Division Commander Brigadier General Yuval Gaz.
"We are prepared for any change in the situation and ready for a wide range of scenarios," said Zamir.
