Israeli military vehicles are positioned along the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel. AFP
In a statement, the Israeli army confirmed that its forces are occupying areas south of this line and have already carried out strikes against Lebanese citizens returning to their homes. The occupation army claimed that it remains authorized to take such actions despite the truce, citing the specific terms of the US-brokered agreement.
Israel has publicly committed to the ceasefire, under an understanding reached between the US and Iran with Pakistani mediation, which involves not carrying out attacks "against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets, in the territory of Lebanon by land, air, and sea."
However, as per the third point of the text of the so-called agreement, Israel also maintains "its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks."
"This shall not be impeded by the cessation of hostilities," the text agreed to by both governments says.
Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati said on Saturday that his group was not concerned by Lebanon's planned direct talks with Israel, saying they were "a failure, weak, defeated... and submissive negotiations".
"The resistance is the one that imposes. We are the land... and we are the ones who draw up the decisions, not those who have an official status," he said, adding that while his group did not mind Beirut "coordinating with us... not in this way that leads to surrender".
The provision of the agreement has raised concerns that it could be interpreted to allow continued attacks by Israel, in the context of earlier ceasefire arrangements in November 2024 that were repeatedly breached by Israel and accompanied by strikes and killings of civilians in Lebanon.
However, US president Donald Trump said the United States has barred Israel from further bombing in Lebanon.
"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" Trump said in a social media post.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi specified the Strait of Hormuz was open for the remainder of the 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon.
Israel has killed 2,000 Lebanese since the current war errupted on March 2.
It has already killed tens of thousands of civilians in Lebanon since October 2023, Gaza and Iran, while claiming to act in self-defense.
As the ceasefire was announced Thursday midnight local time, Hezbollah urged Lebanese residents to postpone their return to the country's south, the Bekaa valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs.
The group praised its fighters' performance during the war but warned that its hands "will remain on the trigger," remaining vigilant against what it described as the enemy's "treachery and betrayal."
On Friday and Saturday, senior Hezbollah lawmakers, including Hassan Fadlallah and Hussein Hajj Hassan, described the Lebanese government's diplomatic engagement with Israel as a "grave error" and a "disgraceful image" while Israeli forces remain on Lebanese soil.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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