Jerusalem: The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said Monday that it has struck three Hezbollah command centres in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire agreement.
It also said that Israeli forces struck and dismantled a launcher used by Hezbollah.
In an earlier statement, the IDF said it had destroyed an underground Hezbollah tunnel in southwestern Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported.
The tunnel, more than 200 metres long and 25 metres deep, contained hundreds of weapons and several launch shafts allegedly intended for attacks on Israeli territory and civilians, the military said.
Incidents between Israel and Hezbollah have continued despite a US-mediated framework agreement signed Friday between Israel and Lebanon.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US-mediated framework agreement signed on Friday between Israel and Lebanon paves the way to ending the conflict and eventually reaching a peace agreement between the two countries.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that “this agreement strengthens Israel and Lebanon, and weakens Iran and Hezbollah. This is a sign of things to come.”
He added that under the agreement, the United States and Lebanon recognise Israel’s right to maintain the “security zone” in southern Lebanon as long as it is necessary for Israel’s security.
He stated that the Israeli military will continue to hold the “security zone” until Hezbollah and other “terror” organisations are disarmed.
Netanyahu noted that the framework agreement includes two areas near the northern boundary of the security zone, recommended by the Israeli military, where a pilot programme will be launched to dismantle Hezbollah and transfer the area to the control of the Lebanese army.
He claimed that Israel has killed more than 9,000 Hezbollah militants since the start of the war and destroyed about 90 per cent of the group’s stockpile of 150,000 missiles and rockets.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Israel and Lebanon had reached a framework agreement for “lasting peace and security.”
The agreement, signed at the end of the latest round of ambassador-level talks in Washington, DC, called again for the implementation of a fragile ceasefire between the two nations.
(IANS)
