Tel Aviv: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it struck multiple sites linked to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Saturday. It targeted ‘militant infrastructure’ used to plan and support attacks, the Israeli military said.
“Over the past day (Saturday), the IDF struck numerous terrorist infrastructure sites and eliminated terrorists operating adjacent to IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.
Around 70 military structures and approximately 50 Hezbollah-linked infrastructure sites were dismantled across several areas, the IDF added, as reported by ANI.
The targets included command centres, weapons storage facilities, military buildings, and other sites allegedly used to advance attacks against Israeli forces, the statement said.
“The IDF will continue to operate against threats directed at Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, in accordance with directives from the political echelon,” the statement said.
The IDF also reported incidents in the southern Gaza Strip, saying troops identified four militants who crossed the “Yellow Line” and approached Israeli positions.
“In several incidents earlier today (Saturday), IDF troops operating in the southern Gaza Strip identified four terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line and approached the troops, posing an immediate threat to them,” the military said.
“Following the identification, the troops fired toward the terrorists in order to remove the threat. Three terrorists were eliminated, and an additional hit was identified,” it added.
Its Southern Command forces remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations to counter immediate threats, the IDF said.
These developments are a fallout of a hardening of positions by the Hezbollah leadership. On April 27, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem reiterated the group’s refusal to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, stressing continued resistance against Israeli “aggression”, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Stating that direct talks remain “out of the question”, Qassem underscored the group’s military stance, asserting, “We will not give up weapons, and the defence and the field have proven our readiness for confrontation.”
The Hezbollah chief also criticised the Lebanese government’s diplomatic approach, Al Jazeera reported.
“The authorities rushed to make an unnecessary and gratuitous concession, and we categorically refuse direct negotiations. The authorities must stop direct negotiations and pursue a path of indirect negotiations,” he added.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said on April 26 that the ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon is being undermined by Hezbollah. He had warned that Israel would respond with force to ensure security along the northern border, stating that despite perceptions to the contrary, the IDF remains actively engaged.
“Regarding Lebanon, one might get the impression that the IDF is not active there. It is active, and it is acting with force. It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are essentially disintegrating the ceasefire,” Netanyahu said.
The primary obligation remains the protection of citizens and soldiers, particularly in the northern region, the Israeli leader emphasised. Israeli forces are operating under rules agreed with the United States and within coordination frameworks involving Lebanon, he added.
This military action follows an announcement on April 23 by US president Donald Trump regarding a three-week extension of the ceasefire. The US administration had indicated it would work with Lebanon to bolster its ability to protect itself from Hezbollah influence.
