IDF accuses Lebanese army of taking only ‘cosmetic’ action against Hezbollah

The IDF continues to criticize the Lebanese army’s handling of the memorandum of understanding reached between Beirut and Jerusalem in Rome, arguing that Lebanon has not taken sufficient action against Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.

“They are going around in circles,” a senior Israeli official familiar with the details of the understandings said on Sunday. “The Lebanese army is very afraid to move against Hezbollah, collect weapons, destroy infrastructure, which is what is actually expected of it,” the official added.

The official said the Lebanese army has already failed to meet expectations. “They are dealing with cosmetics when it comes to Hezbollah. They are not addressing its roots in southern Lebanon and are leaving the work to the IDF or to time, hoping that the fall of the regime in Tehran will lead to a domino effect.”

Israeli defense officials say the main concern for the government in Beirut and the Lebanese army is the possibility of returning to the conditions of the Lebanese civil war. That concern, they say, has deterred Lebanese authorities from taking broader action against Hezbollah, particularly amid threats from the group.

At the same time, Israeli defense officials argue that Hezbollah has changed politically and militarily and is no longer viewed by the Lebanese public in the same way as it was in the past. “This is not the same Hezbollah from the era of Nasrallah. It is not the same organization that controlled every sphere in Lebanon, and therefore the situation must be taken advantage of,” one official said.

Reports from the IDF indicate that some Lebanese army checkpoints are allowing Hezbollah operatives to move between villages in vehicles. Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has designated certain areas as “kill zones.” If Hezbollah operatives are identified in those areas, the military’s response will be clear: They will be attacked to prevent any attempt to establish terrorist activity.

Regarding Ali Taher Ridge, the defense establishment says the IDF will carry out a tactical withdrawal to positions that will allow forces to better defend themselves while preserving the operational gains achieved. The military has also issued clear instructions that any hostile forces approaching IDF troops must be attacked.

IDF continues scanning southern Lebanon for terrorist infrastructure

The IDF is continuing to scan areas in southern Lebanon between the Yellow Line and the border with Israel to locate terrorist infrastructure, map its locations and destroy it.

Defense officials said the decision and determination to destroy Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure on Ali Taher Ridge have strengthened deterrence. However, they stressed that the operation will not prevent Hezbollah from continuing efforts to rebuild infrastructure or challenge the IDF in the area. The IDF has already identified Hezbollah operatives in the Nabatieh area and carried out airstrikes against them.

In recent days, messages have been conveyed between Beirut and Jerusalem through US mediation in an effort to ease tensions and clarify that the IDF operation on Ali Taher Ridge was aimed at destroying terrorist infrastructure that had been used against Israel’s home front and disrupted the daily lives of Lebanese civilians in the area.

Local Lebanese officials demand Hezbollah remove weapons from their areas

Walla reported that mayors and local council heads in southern Lebanon have recently begun approaching Hezbollah, demanding that the organization remove weapons stored within their jurisdictions. They have also blocked Hezbollah activity due to concerns that the IDF could strike the buildings and harm civilians.

Lebanese sources told Walla in recent days that despite Israeli criticism, the Lebanese army is operating against Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives in the area in accordance with the agreement between the sides. However, they said the army is expected to accelerate its efforts.