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Israel Issues Warning to Lebanon as Hezbollah Rebuilds Forces
As Hezbollah works to rebuild its forces following last year’s conflict, Israel’s defense minister has delivered a stern warning to Lebanon, accusing Beirut of failing to enforce the ceasefire agreement brokered last year.
“Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday. “The Lebanese government’s commitment to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and remove it from southern Lebanon must be realized. Enforcement will continue and deepen — we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north.”
The warning comes amid reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is considering broader operations against the Iran-backed terrorist group following repeated violations of the truce. A senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border revealed in an exclusive interview that Hezbollah remains fully armed and continues to receive financial support from Iran.
“Hezbollah didn’t give up their heavy weapons,” the officer said. “They’re still trained, still financed by Iran, and still trying to re-establish their positions. Our job is to make sure they don’t succeed.”
On Monday, the IDF confirmed it had eliminated two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a senior member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, was killed in Nabatieh, while another operative was struck in Ayta ash Shab after being observed collecting intelligence on Israeli positions.
“The terrorists’ activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the IDF stated. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”
The senior IDF officer explained that these operations reflect Israel’s new, proactive security doctrine. “If somebody threatens us, we take control of the situation and make the threat go away,” he said. “We pushed Hezbollah back, so civilians could return. Now we’re fortifying those gains and acting to prevent their recovery.”
This approach, he added, is a direct result of lessons learned from the October 7 attacks. “Until then, we sometimes looked the other way. That’s over. We’re not sitting and waiting for the next rocket.”
The IDF’s 91st Division recently completed its largest exercise since the beginning of the conflict, designed to enhance operational readiness for both defensive and offensive operations along the Lebanese border across all domains—sea, air, and land.
“We tested our defensive systems, coordination, and rapid-response capabilities,” the officer explained. “We’re applying every lesson from October 7 so our response next time will be immediate.”
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, intelligence officials believe Hezbollah is rapidly rebuilding its arsenal with Iranian assistance. Despite the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria last year, the group has partially restored its weapons supply chain through Syria and Iraq.
The Trump administration has also expressed frustration with Lebanon’s failure to curb Hezbollah’s influence. U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack recently described Lebanon as “a failed state” due to its “paralyzed government,” noting that Hezbollah pays its fighters more than what soldiers in the national army earn.
In response to Israel’s preemptive strikes last week, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged his visiting German counterpart on Friday to “help pressure Israel to halt its attacks.”
“Only a diplomatic solution, not a military one, can ensure stability and maintain calm in the south,” Raggi said, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. He added that the Lebanese government “is gradually moving forward with its decision to bring all weapons under state control.”
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed “deep concerns” on Thursday, calling on all parties “to fully commit to the cessation of hostilities.” UNIFIL emphasized that extending state authority “is at the very core of Resolution 1701,” the framework that ended the 2006 Lebanon War.
Despite diplomatic criticism, Israeli commanders maintain they will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities along Israel’s northern border.
“We won’t wait for another October 7,” the Israeli officer stated. “We’re vigilant, we’re rebuilding, and we’re ready. The quiet we have now depends on Hezbollah’s choices — not on our willingness to defend ourselves.”
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14 Comments
This is a concerning situation that bears close watching. Hezbollah’s continued military buildup in Lebanon is a clear threat to regional stability and Israel’s security. The Lebanese government must fulfill its obligations to dismantle the group’s weapons cache.
Agreed. The international community should pressure Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah and prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.
Hezbollah’s continued defiance of the ceasefire agreement is extremely worrying. Israel has legitimate grounds to take action if Lebanon fails to fulfill its obligations. This is a delicate situation that requires urgent international attention.
I agree. The international community must exert pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and uphold the terms of the ceasefire. Failure to do so could have serious regional consequences.
Hezbollah’s continued defiance of the ceasefire terms is deeply concerning. Israel has a legitimate right to protect its citizens, but I hope all parties can engage in constructive dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Escalation must be avoided at all costs.
Absolutely. Diplomacy and conflict resolution should be the top priorities. The international community must exert pressure on Lebanon to fulfill its obligations and disarm Hezbollah to prevent further destabilization in the region.
This is a concerning development that could have far-reaching implications for the region. Israel’s warning to Lebanon is understandable, but I hope the parties can find a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Escalation must be avoided at all costs.
Agreed. Dialogue and diplomacy should be the priority at this stage. All parties must act with restraint and work towards a lasting solution that addresses the core security concerns.
The situation between Israel and Hezbollah is highly volatile, and Lebanon’s failure to rein in the group is extremely troubling. While I understand Israel’s security imperatives, I hope cooler heads prevail and all sides refrain from actions that could trigger a wider conflict.
This is a critical juncture, and Lebanon must demonstrate its commitment to upholding the ceasefire agreement. Failure to do so could have grave consequences for the stability of the region.
It’s troubling to see Hezbollah brazenly flouting the ceasefire terms and rebuilding its forces. Israel has every right to defend its citizens from this Iran-backed terrorist group. Lebanon needs to step up and fulfill its commitments.
Absolutely. Hezbollah’s actions are reckless and jeopardize the fragile peace. Lebanon must act swiftly to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and prevent further conflict.
This is a complex geopolitical situation with high stakes. While I understand Israel’s security concerns, I hope both sides can find a diplomatic solution to ease tensions and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
Diplomacy is certainly the preferred path forward, but Hezbollah’s intransigence makes that challenging. Lebanon needs to demonstrate tangible progress in reining in the group’s activities.