Israeli Defense Minister recalled that the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect at midnight, is “temporary,” making it clear that Israeli armed forces are not withdrawing from areas in Lebanon and that military objectives will be completed even by force if necessary.

In a statement, Katz said that “the Israeli army holds and will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and occupied.” He noted that the ground operation in Lebanon and strikes against Hezbollah throughout the country have produced significant results, but “they are not yet complete.”

The Israeli defence minister described the current situation as a “war against Hezbollah” with a temporary suspension of hostilities and a 10-day ceasefire announced on Thursday afternoon. According to him, the main objective of the Israeli military campaign remains to neutralize Hezbollah’s weaponry either through military or diplomatic means.

Katz noted that an important diplomatic tool has been created through the direct involvement of the US president and the commitment to achieve this goal, coupled with pressure on the Lebanese government. Donald Trump has referred to direct talks between Lebanon and Israel following the announcement of the ceasefire.

The Israeli minister also claimed that more than 1,700 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, noting that this number far exceeds the casualties recorded in the 2006 war, which was widely considered to have failed to achieve Israel’s strategic objectives. At the same time, he said the security zone along the border has been cleared of Hezbollah fighters and residents alike.

He said the area would continue to be cleared of terrorist infrastructure, including the destruction of homes in southern Lebanese villages that Israel said had been turned into the group’s operational bases.

Katz acknowledged that Hezbollah fighters and weapons are still present in the new security zone in southern Lebanon, which extends to the Litani River, stressing that the area will be cleared either through a diplomatic agreement or by resuming military operations. “If hostilities resume, the residents who return to the security zone will have to leave it to complete the mission,” he said, noting that Israel will strike Hezbollah targets north of the Litani River as well.

Lebanon’s president: We are working for the withdrawal of Israeli forces

For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, speaking to a group of Lebanese MPs, said his country is working for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of Lebanese citizens detained by Israel and the resolution of outstanding border disputes.

Aoun described the 10-day ceasefire as a “gateway to advance negotiations” with Israel and stressed that the Lebanese armed forces will play a key role after the withdrawal of Israeli troops. He noted that the Lebanese army will be deployed on the border with Israel and will assure the residents of southern Lebanon that, upon their return to their towns and villages, there will be no armed forces other than the army and legitimate security forces.

The Lebanese president stressed that the opportunity created through the ceasefire “must not be lost, as it may not present itself again.”