IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned Hezbollah on Wednesday that any violation of the new ceasefire agreement would trigger an even stronger military response, as the fragile calm along Israel's northern border entered its first day.
Speaking at a military briefing, he emphasized Israel's readiness to enforce the agreement with unprecedented determination. "While our campaign in Lebanon was resolute, our enforcement of this agreement will be even more so," he said, referencing the rules of engagement approved Tuesday by Israel's security cabinet.
Halevi detailed a comprehensive military presence along the border, including constant aerial surveillance and naval vessels equipped for both intelligence gathering and combat operations. He specifically warned that any Hezbollah operatives approaching Israeli forces or entering designated buffer zones would face immediate military action.
"Let me be clear - we didn't wage months of warfare and evacuate our citizens from their homes only to accept a partial solution," Halevi stated. "Our ground forces and Northern Command are positioned to respond instantly to any violation, whether through warnings or direct fire."
Ceasefireappeared to be a direct message to Hezbollah's leadership, Halevi outlined potential consequences of breaking the ceasefire. "If this arrangement fails to hold, our next operation will cut deeper and strike harder. We are absolutely committed to creating a new security reality for northern Israel's residents."
The statement comes as Israeli communities along the Lebanon border cautiously watch the ceasefire's implementation, with many residents still unable to return to their homes after months of cross-border conflict.