Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday that the military has been instructed to use "full force" in Lebanon, even during the current ceasefire, if Israeli troops encounter any threats.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz directed the IDF to act decisively on the ground and from the air to protect soldiers. The military has also been ordered to demolish any "booby-trapped" structures or roads posing a risk.
The stated aim is to eliminate houses near the border that allegedly served as Hezbollah terror outposts and threatened Israeli communities. An Israeli soldier was killed Friday entering a booby-trapped building, the day a 10-day ceasefire took effect.
Katz has previously stated Israel would demolish houses along the border to establish a security zone in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces reportedly carried out demolitions in Bint Jbeil on Saturday, a town previously a site of intense fighting.
Katz reiterated that Israel's goal in Lebanon is the disarmament of Hezbollah and the removal of threats to northern communities through military and diplomatic means. He added that if the Lebanese government fails to meet its obligations, the IDF will act militarily.