Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that Israeli troops deployed in Lebanon have been instructed to use their full strength if threatened, even during the ongoing ceasefire. Speaking at an event in the occupied West Bank, Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to respond by land and air to any threat against their soldiers. He added that troops were ordered to destroy potentially dangerous sites and roads that might contain traps.

According to military sources, a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began on Friday, but an Israeli soldier was killed the same day in southern Lebanon after a bomb exploded inside a building. Katz reiterated that Israel’s goal is to eliminate Hezbollah bases near the border and remove threats to Israeli communities. He warned that if the Lebanese government fails to act, the IDF will continue operations to ensure security.

The conflict escalated in early March when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and ground operations across southern Lebanon.