IDF confirms it carried out first strikes against Hezbollah since ceasefire, says operatives violated truce

The IDF confirms carrying out several strikes in southern Lebanon in the past day against Hezbollah operatives who “violated the ceasefire understandings,” in the first such actions since the truce took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday.

Troops operating south of the “Yellow Line” in southern Lebanon “identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings and approached the forces from north of the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” the military says.

The IDF says the Israeli Air Force and ground troops “struck the terrorists in several areas in southern Lebanon” to “remove the threat.”

The Yellow Line in southern Lebanon refers to the military’s line of deployment as the ceasefire took effect on Thursday night.

In addition, the military says it carried out artillery shelling in support of ground troops operating in southern Lebanon, “and terror infrastructure was destroyed in response to threats.”

The IDF says it is acting “in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”

“Accordingly, the IDF is authorized to take the necessary measures for self-defense against threats, while safeguarding the security of Israeli civilians and the troops deployed on the ground,” the military says in a statement.

“Actions of self-defense and the removal of threats are not limited by the ceasefire,” the IDF says, adding that it will “not allow harm to the citizens of Israel and its soldiers, and will take all necessary actions to ensure their security.”

The military says that it will continue to clear the area currently under its control of Hezbollah infrastructure, operatives, and any other threats.