(JNS) Israeli forces in Southern Lebanon earlier this week struck a vehicle carrying Hezbollah terrorists who posed an imminent threat, the army announced on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The IDF stressed that troops are actively working to eliminate threats and dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Southern Lebanon, in line with the Nov. 26 ceasefire agreement between Jerusalem and Beirut, which was extended on Sunday until Feb. 18.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared on Monday that the Iranian-backed terror organization rejected any attempts to justify the delay of Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.
On Friday, Jerusalem announced that its military pullout would take longer than the 60-day deadline set by the ceasefire agreement.
“The IDF’s withdrawal process is conditional on the Lebanese Army deploying in Southern Lebanon, and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani [River],” said the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
“Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the State of Lebanon, the phased withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States,” the statement continued.
Jerusalem “will not endanger its communities and citizens, and will insist on the full implementation of the objective of the fighting in the north, which is the safe return of residents to their homes,” it added.
According to Arab media reports on Tuesday, Hezbollah recently surrendered control of a large underground terror compound to the LAF. The “Imad 4” tunnel system—a facility for storing guided missiles and heavy rockets—was transferred to Lebanon’s army last week after Hezbollah emptied it of “heavy equipment,” according to the reports.
On Sunday, The London Times reported that a top LAF intelligence officer was among dozens who have leaked secrets to the Iran-backed terrorist group since the start of the ceasefire with Israel.
Suhil Bahij Gharb handed Hezbollah sensitive information from inside a command and control center run by the United States, France and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, a source told the British daily.
