IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said today that there is no ceasefire in southern Lebanon, as Hezbollah and IDF troops continue to exchange fire. The Times of Israel reports that Hezbollah drones injured 12 soldiers today, as the IDF continues to strike infrastructure used by the Iran-backed terror group.
The US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which started on April 17, was extended on April 24 for an additional three weeks, US President Donald Trump announced at the time. His announcement came as Israeli and Lebanese diplomats met for US-brokered talks.
But cross-border fighting has continued. Speaking in the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh, one of the border villages where Israeli troops are deployed, Zamir said that the IDF “will not tolerate” Hezbollah’s attacks, while adding that Israel will not leave the security buffer zone it holds in south Lebanon until the threat to Israel’s northern communities is removed.
“In Lebanon, the mission assigned to us by the political echelon is to position ourselves along the line to prevent direct fire on the communities. We have achieved this; this is the line we are on. We may be required to remain on it,” Zamir said.
“We will not tolerate attacks and fire on our communities, and we will not leave until long-term security for the northern communities is ensured,” he said, according to remarks published by the IDF.
During Zamir’s visit, the IDF reportedly struck about 20 Hezbollah sites. The 12 soldiers who were wounded today were positioned near the northern Israeli community of Shomera. Two were reported to be moderately injured, while the others were in stable condition. The IDF has also been firing interceptor missiles at suspected Hezbollah drones crossing the border.
Yesterday, Israel asked U.S. President Donald Trump to set a two-to-three-week deadline for talks with Lebanon, as Hezbollah attacks persist. The Fellowship and its supporters continue to pray for at-risk northern communities in Israel while also working to help make them safer and better prepared for such attacks.
