Israel Warns Lebanon: Truce Violations Could Spark Escalation

As tensions persist in the Middle East, Israel has issued a stark warning: any collapse of the fragile truce with Hezbollah could lead to a broader conflict, with Lebanon held accountable.

Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized, “If we return to war, we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and... there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.” This statement underscores Israel’s determination to prevent Hezbollah’s violations of the ceasefire, which was brokered to end a 14-month war between the two sides.

The truce, effective since November 27, prohibits Israeli military operations in Lebanon while requiring Lebanese authorities to prevent attacks on Israel from their territory. However, violations have already occurred. On Monday, Hezbollah shelled an Israeli military post, prompting Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed 12 people. On Tuesday, a drone strike claimed another life.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the situation with firm resolve: “We are enforcing this ceasefire with an iron fist… This is a ceasefire, not the end of the war.”

Despite the agreement, Israeli forces have continued targeting Hezbollah fighters who fail to withdraw beyond the Litani River, 30 km from the Israeli border.

Lebanese officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, have urged the United States and France to pressure Israel into upholding the ceasefire. Diplomatic efforts have intensified, with the U.S. and France set to lead a mission tasked with monitoring and enforcing the truce.

However, the situation remains precarious. A Lebanese recruitment drive aims to strengthen the army’s presence in the south, while a monitoring committee chaired by U.S. General Jasper Jeffers is expected to meet for the first time this week.

The ceasefire represents a fragile hope for stability in the region, but each violation threatens to reignite full-scale conflict. Israel’s stance is clear: any future war will no longer distinguish between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state.

As tensions rise, the resolve to support Israel remains steadfast, underscoring the biblical mandate to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).