A senior political official said Saturday that Israel has instructed the IDF to cease fire in Lebanon under government directive but retains freedom to act. The official warned that any renewed Hezbollah attack will be met with overwhelming force. Separately, Israel's ambassador to the US said Hezbollah fired 147 rockets in the past day.
A senior Israeli political official warned Saturday evening that if Hezbollah attacks again, Israel will strike 'with force,' as Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter reported Hezbollah fired 147 rockets in the past day. The warning, conveyed to i24NEWS at 19:21 Jerusalem, follows a directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordering the IDF to halt fire in southern Lebanon after a punishing 48-hour campaign, while retaining full operational freedom, as The Zioneer reported at 17:14 and 18:15 Saturday.
Earlier Saturday, The Zioneer reported that the IDF had struck over 300 Hezbollah targets and eliminated approximately 100 operatives, with a separate political directive at 18:15 ordering a ceasefire but maintaining troop positions inside the security zone. This development builds on the thread of reports since Friday: initial Lebanese claims of strikes after a purported 16:00 ceasefire (version 1, Fri 16:23 Jerusalem) evolved to at least 10 sites (version 3) and then to 300 targets struck (version 4), with the IDF confirming it retains full freedom of action (versions 5-6).
As The Zioneer reported on Saturday, the Prime Minister's Office stated that Netanyahu reiterated Israel will stay in the southern Lebanon security zone 'as long as needed,' and the IDF has been directed to respond forcefully to any Hezbollah attack. The statement from the senior official appears designed to deter Hezbollah from resuming fire while signaling to Israel's domestic audience that military operational flexibility is preserved.
No immediate Hezbollah response was reported, and it remains unclear whether the 147-rocket figure encompasses all launches or only those recorded by Israeli systems.
7 developments
- ConfirmedAmid US pressure and Iran threats, IDF ordered to reduce operations in Lebanon
- StrongIDF warns it will return to 'intensive combat' in Lebanon if necessary
- ConfirmedSenior Israeli official: Netanyahu orders IDF to stay in security zone, vows forceful response to any Hezbollah attack
- DevelopingIDF strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon as US Embassy in Israel issues shelter directive
Source and signal
- Internal intake