Israel’s defense minister has issued a stern warning to Beirut, accusing Lebanon of failing to uphold the ceasefire terms established last year, amidst ongoing operations by Israeli forces.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “Hezbollah is engaged in a dangerous game, and Lebanon’s president is procrastinating.” He stressed, “The Lebanese government’s pledge to dismantle Hezbollah’s armaments and clear it from southern Lebanon must be fulfilled. Enforcement efforts will persist and intensify — we will not tolerate any threat to those residing in the north.”
His warning follows reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is considering wider operations against the Iran-backed militant group, in response to recurrent violations of the truce.
An exclusive interview with a senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border revealed that Hezbollah continues to be fully armed and financially supported by Iran.
“Hezbollah did not relinquish its heavy weaponry,” the officer stated. “They remain trained, continue to receive financing, and are still attempting to re-establish their strongholds. Our duty is to prevent their success.”
On Monday, the IDF confirmed the killing of two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah’s elite unit, was neutralized in Nabatieh, while another operative was targeted in Ayta ash Shab after being observed gathering intelligence on Israeli locations.
“The actions of these terrorists breached the agreements between Israel and Lebanon,” the IDF declared in a statement. “The IDF will persevere in its operations to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel.”
The senior officer explained that these operations demonstrate Israel’s updated, proactive security policy. “If we are threatened, we assert control over the situation and neutralize the danger,” he remarked. “We repelled Hezbollah, enabling civilians to return. Now we are solidifying those achievements and working to hinder their resurgence.”
He further added that this represents the lesson Israel drew from the events of Oct. 7. “Before then, we occasionally chose to overlook certain matters. That approach is finished. We are no longer passively anticipating the next rocket attack.”
The officer mentioned that the IDF’s 91st Division recently concluded its most extensive exercise since the conflict began, aimed at bolstering operational readiness for both defensive and offensive maneuvers along the Lebanese border — across naval, aerial, and ground domains.
“We evaluated our defensive systems, coordination, and swift-response abilities,” he stated. “We are incorporating every lesson from Oct. 7 to ensure our next response is immediate.”
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, intelligence officials believe the group is operating with Iranian assistance. The organization has partially re-established its weapons supply route via Syria and Iraq, despite disruptions caused by the Assad regime’s downfall last year.
The Trump administration has also voiced frustration regarding Beirut’s inability to control Hezbollah. U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack recently characterized Lebanon as “a failed state” due to its “paralyzed government,” noting that Hezbollah compensates its fighters more generously than national army soldiers.
In response to Israel’s preemptive strikes last week, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi on Friday appealed to his visiting German counterpart to “help exert pressure on Israel to cease its attacks.”
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Raggi stated, “Only a diplomatic resolution, not a military one, can guarantee stability and preserve calm in the south.”
He further noted that the Lebanese government “is progressively advancing with its commitment to bring all weapons under state authority.”
On Thursday, the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) expressed “profound concerns,” imploring all parties “to completely commit to ending hostilities.”
UNIFIL also mentioned that it maintains communication with the Lebanese Armed Forces and underscored that expanding state governance “is central to Resolution 1701.”
Despite diplomatic disapproval, Israeli officials insist they will not permit Hezbollah to re-establish itself.
The Israeli officer declared, “We will not await another Oct. 7. We are watchful, we are reconstituting our capabilities, and we are prepared. The current tranquility relies on Hezbollah’s decisions — not on our readiness to defend ourselves.”