The IDF was ordered to implement a near-complete cease-fire on strikes in southern Lebanon, days before five soldiers were killed over the weekend and before the Iran-US MOU was signed, according to a report by Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio). Operations that previously required approval at division or corps command now require the chief of staff's personal authorization — officials cited in the report criticize the restrictions as harming troops' ability to defend themselves.
A report Sunday morning by Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio) revealed that the IDF was ordered to implement a near-complete freeze on strikes in southern Lebanon days before five soldiers were killed over the weekend, and before the Iran-US MOU was signed. The directive, issued to Northern Command several days ago, dramatically tightened rules of engagement: strikes that once required approval at the division or corps command level now require the chief of staff's personal authorization — and in some cases, that of the political echelon. The restrictions applied even to strikes near Israeli ground forces in the security zone; in Dahieh (Beirut) and the Bekaa Valley, Israeli operations had already been limited for months due to US constraints, as The Zioneer reported on June 8.
The new report is the latest development in a story The Zioneer has tracked since Saturday evening, when initial reports (Nir Dvori, KAN) said the prime minister and defense minister ordered a ceasefire without withdrawing from captured areas. By 17:37 Jerusalem on Saturday, multiple reports converged: Chief of Staff Zamir officially directed a hold-fire, an Israeli official confirmed the directive, and the IDF itself confirmed receiving a political order to cease fire in Lebanon. The thread saw the story evolve from an unconfirmed report (Yedioth) to a confirmed, on-record directive spanning the military and political echelons. As The Zioneer reported on June 19, Netanyahu acknowledged Israel's operational constraints, characterizing recent strikes as a 'limited response' after which the IDF returns to a minimal threat-removal posture.
The new restrictions predated both the weekend's deadly incident — in which five soldiers were killed — and the Iran-US MOU signing, and appear linked to American demand for a de-escalation ahead of diplomatic talks, as earlier thread items noted (Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, its confirmation of Switzerland talks). Officers who spoke with the reporters criticized the restrictions, arguing they impair the military's ability to target Hezbollah operatives and protect troops on the ground. The IDF Spokesperson chose not to comment on the report as of Sunday morning.
It remains unclear whether the new directive reflects a policy shift distinct from Saturday's reported ceasefire orders, or is a specific operational implementation of the same political directive. The geographic scope of the strike freeze — whether it covers all of Lebanon or only the southern sector — has not been detailed by official sources.
13 developments
- StrongIDF: Forces remain in southern Lebanon following political directive
- DevelopingIDF sharply constrained its strikes in southern Lebanon since last week, source says
- StrongIDF confirms political directive to cease fire in Lebanon, remains on high alert for Iran threats
- ConfirmedIDF reportedly ordered to halt strikes in Iran, continue operations in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake