Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said Hezbollah’s actions were threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledged to “vigorously” target the group.
“It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” Netanyahu said during a weekly cabinet meeting.
Under the terms of the truce, which was recently extended, Israel reserves the right to respond to “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” and has been striking targets in south Lebanon almost every day.
On Wednesday, a double-tap Israeli air strike killed veteran Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and wounded another journalist, Zeinab Faraj, in a targeted attack on the southern village of al-Tayri.
“We are acting vigorously in accordance with arrangements agreed with the United States and, incidentally, also with Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.
“This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but also to pre-empt immediate threats and even emerging threats.”