Fragile Lebanon Ceasefire Holds as Israel Vows Troops Will Act Against Any Threat

By Elsie Kamsiyochi

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement appeared to be holding on Sunday, offering the region its longest period of relative calm since fighting erupted in Lebanon in early March.

However, Israeli Defence Minister made clear that Israeli forces stationed inside southern Lebanon would continue to operate aggressively against any perceived threats, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the truce.

Speaking on Sunday, Katz said Israeli soldiers deployed in what Israel describes as a security zone inside Lebanese territory have full authority to take action whenever they believe their safety is at risk. He stressed that the military would maintain all positions captured during months of conflict and would not relax its security posture despite the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on Friday.

The ceasefire was intended to halt months of escalating violence between Israel and , a conflict that intensified alongside the broader regional war involving Iran and its allies. While the agreement has reduced hostilities, tensions remain high, and both sides continue to accuse each other of violations.

Just one day after the ceasefire began, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people in southern Lebanon. Israel said the strikes were launched in response to projectiles allegedly fired by Hezbollah fighters toward Israeli troops operating near the border. Israeli officials described the targets as Hezbollah military positions and said the military would continue to respond forcefully to any attacks.

For its part, Hezbollah insisted that it remains committed to the ceasefire arrangement. A senior Hezbollah official told Reuters that the group would honor the truce as long as Israel does the same. The official also argued that Israeli troops have no right to move freely within Lebanese territory and maintained that Hezbollah fighters had not fired on Israeli forces since Saturday evening.

Security sources familiar with the situation indicated that major Israeli strikes in Lebanon also appeared to have stopped around the same time. If confirmed, the pause would mark the longest period without significant military action since the war between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2.

The Israeli military declined to provide details regarding the last exchange of fire or confirm reports that operations had ceased after Saturday evening. Nevertheless, the absence of major attacks has raised cautious hopes that the ceasefire may be gaining traction despite continued distrust on both sides.

The developments come as international attention shifts toward high-level diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region. Iranian officials have described Lebanon as a central issue in ongoing peace talks between Iran and the United States taking place in Switzerland. Those negotiations follow a framework agreement reached by Washington and Tehran to halt the wider conflict that erupted earlier this year and threatened to draw multiple countries into a broader Middle East war.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has made it clear that it intends to maintain a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon. According to Israeli officials, the security zone extends roughly 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory and is considered essential for protecting communities in northern Israel from future attacks.

Katz emphasized that the achievements secured by Israeli forces during the military campaign would not be surrendered. He said the Israel Defense Forces would remain prepared to respond immediately to any hostile activity and would continue monitoring Hezbollah movements closely.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to argue that it retains the right to resist Israeli forces operating inside Lebanon, even while refraining from attacks across the border into northern Israel. This fundamental disagreement over military presence and sovereignty remains one of the most significant obstacles to a lasting peace.

As diplomats gather in Switzerland to pursue broader regional negotiations, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier remains highly volatile. While the current lull in fighting has provided a rare moment of relief for civilians on both sides of the border, analysts warn that the ceasefire remains fragile and could unravel quickly if either side perceives a violation or threat.

For now, the guns have largely fallen silent, but the future of the truce—and the stability of the wider Middle East—continues to hang in the balance.

Source Reuters