Israel conditions any withdrawal on the disarmament of Hezbollah
In recent days, the IDF also reported the death of an Israeli soldier during operations in southern Lebanon, in addition to the elimination of a Hezbollah member following an armed confrontation.
The Netanyahu government reiterated that Israeli troops will remain deployed in the so-called "security zone" as long as Hezbollah maintains military capability.
For its part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun assured U.S. President Donald Trump that his government will comply with the implementation of the agreement, which includes a gradual disarmament of Hezbollah under the supervision of the Lebanese Army.
Israel announced this Sunday the destruction of an extensive tunnel belonging to the terrorist group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, in an operation that represents a new blow against the military infrastructure of the Iran-backed organization and once again escalates the situation on the Israeli northern border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the structure was part of an offensive system prepared to launch attacks against Israeli territory, despite the recent agreement promoted by the United States to reduce hostilities between the two countries.
Israel destroyed a tunnel with hundreds of Hezbollah weapons
According to information released by the Israeli government, the tunnel was over 200 meters long and reached a depth of more than 25 meters, becoming one of the most important underground infrastructures detected recently.
Inside, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) found hundreds of weapons and multiple launch positions intended to attack Israeli civilian populations.
"The tunnel contained hundreds of weapons, as well as several launch sites intended to attack the State of Israel and its civilians", Netanyahu and Katz stated in a joint statement.
Before carrying out the demolition, Israel notified both the United States and its diplomatic representative in Lebanon about the operation, in line with the coordination mechanisms established between the two allies.
Military operations continue despite the agreement promoted by the United States
The destruction of the tunnel occurred while the Israeli Army was conducting new bombings on Hezbollah positions in various areas of southern Lebanon, including attacks near Nabatieh, according to the Lebanese official agency NNA.
Military operations continue despite the agreement promoted by the United States
The Lebanese Ministry of Health indicated that two people were injured by the explosion of a stun grenade, while residents of several localities left the area after alerts about possible new Israeli attacks were spread.
This is the first major operation of this kind since the signing of the trilateral understanding promoted by the United States, which aims to advance towards the demilitarization of Hezbollah and reduce tensions at the border.
However, the facts on the ground reflect that the terrorist group continues to maintain military infrastructure and operational capacity, something that Israel considers incompatible with any peace process.
However, the terrorist organization completely rejects that understanding.
Its leader, Naim Qassem, described the agreement as "a surrender of sovereignty" and reiterated that Hezbollah does not recognize any pact that contemplates its disarmament.
The influence of Iran remains the main focus of the conflict
The influence of Iran remains the main focus of the conflict
Netanyahu described the diplomatic understanding as a strategic advance to weaken Iran's regional influence, the main financial, political, and military supporter of Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Minister Israel Katz insisted that the Israel Defense Forces will not leave Lebanese territory until the terrorist threat disappears.
In parallel, the internal political situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate.
Leaders close to Hezbollah accused the Lebanese government of creating internal divisions. Deputy Hassan Fadlallah denounced that official decisions "amount to sedition aimed at pushing the country into chaos and transforming the external conflict into an internal one".
In Beirut, symbolic protests against the new political scenario were also recorded, with the burning of posters bearing the slogan "Lebanon first", amid the growing debate about the future of the country, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the influence that Iran continues to exert over the terrorist organization.
