Netanyahu, in an interview with Channel 14, confirmed he had directed the Israeli military to respond forcefully if necessary. “If necessary, I gave a directive to the [Israeli army] to wage an intensive war in the event of any breach of the truce,” he said.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, aims to end a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in Lebanon and displaced tens of thousands in both countries.
Early Thursday, the Israeli military reported an airstrike on a Hezbollah weapons facility in southern Lebanon, alleging it had thwarted “terrorist activity.” The mayor of Baysariyeh, a town near the strike, said the targeted area was forested and not accessible to civilians.
Despite the truce, skirmishes have occurred. The Lebanese National News Agency reported two people were injured by Israeli fire in a border village, while the Israeli army stated it fired at “suspects” violating the ceasefire terms.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces are to hold their positions while Lebanese military and security forces deploy across the south. A phased Israeli withdrawal is planned to prevent a power vacuum that could be exploited by Hezbollah or other groups.
Lebanese forces were observed patrolling and setting up checkpoints south of the Litani River on Thursday but had yet to advance into areas under Israeli control. Meanwhile, the Israeli army imposed a nighttime curfew in parts of southern Lebanon.
For many Lebanese returning home, the devastation was overwhelming. “Despite all the destruction and sorrow, we are happy to be back,” said Umm Mohammed Bzeih, a widow who returned to her village in southern Lebanon to find her home in ruins.
In Qlayaa, a majority-Christian village, residents celebrated the arrival of Lebanese soldiers with rice and flowers. They chanted support for the army, emphasizing their desire for a Lebanese military presence over armed groups like Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah reiterated its readiness to counter Israel. However, the group’s lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah stated that its fighters had no visible weapons or bases in the areas being handed over to the Lebanese army.
In northern Israel, residents expressed mixed emotions. “We still don’t feel safe,” said Nissim Ravivo of Nahariya, a coastal city near the Lebanese border.
The war, which began in October 2023, has left at least 3,961 dead in Lebanon and 129 fatalities on the Israeli side, including soldiers and civilians.
Amid the conflict’s fallout, Lebanon faces the daunting task of rebuilding. Already grappling with political and economic crises, the country is set to hold a parliamentary session on January 9 to elect a president after a two-year leadership vacuum—a move that has sparked cautious optimism.
