Israeli soldiers are free to act without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday, adding troops remained in position in what Israel refers to as a security zone.
A ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on Friday after months of escalating violence, but on Saturday Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported.
Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired by the Iran-backed group at its troops in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what an Israeli official described as "Hezbollah targets".
Iranian officials have said Lebanon is the focal point for Sunday's peace talks with the United States in Switzerland after Washington and Tehran signed a framework to halt the war between them that began at the end of February, escalating tension across the region.
The Israeli military invaded parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah maintains it has the right to fight Israeli forces in Lebanon, but would halt attacks on northern Israel.
Katz said Israeli troops would remain in all positions in what it calls a security zone, which extends about 10 km (6 miles) into southern Lebanon.
Israel says that is to protect northern Israeli communities.
"All of the IDF's achievements in the campaign in Lebanon are being preserved, with our forces deployed in the security zone along the Yellow Line in Lebanon and operating from there inward against terrorists and terrorist infrastructures," he said in Sunday's statement.
-Reuters
A ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on Friday after months of escalating violence, but on Saturday Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported.
Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired by the Iran-backed group at its troops in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what an Israeli official described as "Hezbollah targets".
Iranian officials have said Lebanon is the focal point for Sunday's peace talks with the United States in Switzerland after Washington and Tehran signed a framework to halt the war between them that began at the end of February, escalating tension across the region.
The Israeli military invaded parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah maintains it has the right to fight Israeli forces in Lebanon, but would halt attacks on northern Israel.
Katz said Israeli troops would remain in all positions in what it calls a security zone, which extends about 10 km (6 miles) into southern Lebanon.
Israel says that is to protect northern Israeli communities.
"All of the IDF's achievements in the campaign in Lebanon are being preserved, with our forces deployed in the security zone along the Yellow Line in Lebanon and operating from there inward against terrorists and terrorist infrastructures," he said in Sunday's statement.
-Reuters
Latest News
Trump, blaming alleged vandals, says Washington Reflecting Pool needs repairs
Local
21 June 2026
Partey in spotlight as he faces former teammates after charges
Local
21 June 2026
No-fly zone for Iran talks disrupted Zurich flights
Local
21 June 2026
Britain’s financial industry rebound after Brexit
Local
21 June 2026
Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty announce they are expecting first child
Local
21 June 2026
McCullum ready to work with captain Stokes again
Local
21 June 2026
Fire breaks out at bakery in Wellampitiya
Local
21 June 2026
Briton Mullins suffers more heartbreak in UFC loss
Local
21 June 2026
Turkish Prez orders talks to reopen Orthodox Christian seminary
Local
21 June 2026
Israeli soldiers in Lebanon are allowed to take action under threat
Local
21 June 2026