Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he is ready to implement the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon and will respond decisively to any violation by Hezbollah, adding that Israel retains "full military freedom of action".
In a televised address, Netanyahu said he would put the truce deal before his entire cabinet for consideration later in the evening. Israeli television reported that the security cabinet had previously approved the deal.
The deal, which paves the way for an end to the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives since the war in Gaza began last year, is expected to come into effect today, Reuters reported.
"We will implement the agreement and will resolutely respond to any violation. Together we will continue to victory," Netanyahu said.
"In full coordination with the United States, we retain full military freedom of action. If Hezbollah breaks the agreement or tries to rearm, we will strike decisively."
He added that Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran and is linked to Hamas, is significantly weaker than at the beginning of the conflict.
"We set them back decades, eliminated... their top leaders, destroyed most of their rockets and missiles, neutralized thousands of fighters and destroyed years of terrorist infrastructure near our border," Netanyahu said.
"We were targeting strategic objectives throughout Lebanon, we shook Beirut to its very foundations."
Netanyahu added that there were three reasons for implementing the truce: to focus on Iran, to restore depleted weapons stockpiles and give the military a break, and finally to isolate Hamas, the militant group that sparked the war in the region last year. attacked Israel from Gaza.
Despite the diplomatic progress, hostilities continued yesterday as Israel dramatically stepped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 deaths.
A Hezbollah member of parliament in Lebanon, Hassan Fadlalah, said the country was going through "dangerous, sensitive hours" as it awaited a possible cease-fire announcement.
However, there was no indication that the ceasefire in Lebanon would speed up a deal on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the devastated Gaza, where Israel is fighting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
According to the official, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon requires the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the region. Hezbollah should end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to deploy at least 5.000 troops in southern Lebanon when Israeli troops withdraw, adding that the US could play a role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by Israeli strikes.
Israel demands effective implementation of the ceasefire with Lebanon by the United Nations and has announced that it will show "zero tolerance" for any violation, Defense Minister Israel Katz said yesterday.
In the hours before the truce was announced, Israeli attacks destroyed part of the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah. Israel's military said a single rocket fire hit 20 targets in the city in just 120 seconds, killing at least seven people and wounding 37, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Israel has issued its biggest evacuation warning yet, asking civilians to leave 20 locations. Israeli military spokesman Avichai Adraee said the air force was carrying out a "broad operation" on Hezbollah targets throughout the city.
Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, continued its rocket attacks on Israel.
The United Nations human rights chief expressed concern over the escalation of violence in Lebanon, and his office said Israeli airstrikes in recent days had killed nearly 100 people, including women, children and medical workers.
Israel has dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah since it launched an offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and bombing areas of Lebanon where the group has influence.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced yesterday that 2023 people were killed and 3.823 wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since October 15.859. Over a million people were forced to leave their homes.
45 civilians were killed in Hezbollah attacks in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. According to Israeli authorities, at least 73 Israeli soldiers died in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and during fighting in southern Lebanon.
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