What it’s about:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphatically denied reports of an impending ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, asserting that he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue their operations with full intensity.
Why it matters:
Netanyahu’s determination to continue military actions reinforces Israel’s policy of a strong defense posture, ensuring the safety and security of its citizens amidst ongoing threats from the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
Driving the news:
Reports surfaced that a ceasefire with Hezbollah was supposedly imminent. The Prime Minister’s Office has refuted these claims, maintaining that Netanyahu has given directives to sustain military operations.
Details:
While Netanyahu continues his visit to the United States, including an address to the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, serving as acting Prime Minister, strongly echoed Netanyahu’s stance. “We will continue to fight against the terrorist organization Hezbollah with all our might until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Katz declared.
On Thursday, the IDF announced that overnight operations targeted approximately 75 Hezbollah-controlled terrorist sites in Lebanon, hitting weapons storages, operational launchers, and various terrorist infrastructures.
The apparent ceasefire reports come amidst significant rocket attacks on the city of Acre. Consequently, residents in northern regions of Israel, including the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee, have been urged to remain near protected areas.
What they are saying:
“The report about a ceasefire is incorrect. This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth,” the PMO continued, reinforcing Netanyahu’s directive for the IDF to continue its operations according to the existing military plans.
The bottom line:
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement underscores Israel’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its national security against ongoing threats, reiterating the nation’s resolve and readiness to combat terrorism relentlessly.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.