IDF Captures Hezbollah Drone Factory In South Lebanon After Five Soldiers Killed

Five Israeli soldiers were laid to rest on Sunday after being killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon, as the IDF said operations continued despite a cease-fire.

Haaretz said the deaths included a tank strike and a rocket-and-drone attack, and it quoted a family mourning line: 'In what kind of world does a grandfather bury his grandson?'.

Al-Jazeera Net

The Times of Israel reported that, in southern Lebanon just kilometers from the Israeli border, Hezbollah built an underground drone “airbase” that the IDF captured this month, with journalists driven in a convoy of Humvees along the Lebanese coast before heading east toward Majdal Zoun.

The Times of Israel said the tunnel runs several hundred meters into the mountain, reaching depths of 29 meters (95 feet) under Majdal Zoun—including beneath a mosque—and that the IDF uncovered similar Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon in the past but said this one was built to a “much higher standard.”

Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that there was and is no restriction on Israeli soldiers to act against any threat encountered inside Lebanon, and he added that Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon.

Middle East Eye quoted Katz saying, "There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on [Israeli] soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats" and also quoted him on Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the security zone.

Anadolu Ajansı

NDTV reported that Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said soldiers were free to act without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon, while Israel said troops remained in position in what it refers to as a security zone that extends about 10 km (6 miles) into southern Lebanon.

NDTV also said a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on Friday after months of escalating violence, but on Saturday Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported.

The Times of Israel described the IDF’s rationale for capturing the tunnel as depriving Hezbollah of capabilities, quoting a Yahalom combat engineering unit squadron commander: "These are drones that threatened the State of Israel throughout its length and breadth."

The Washington Post said a renewed ceasefire entered into effect after mediation efforts by the United States, Iran and Qatar, while an Israeli official told the paper, "We are remaining in the security zone, and if we are attacked — we will respond."

The Washington Post reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country would "exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah," for the deaths of the four soldiers and that the Israel Defense Forces would maintain its buffer zone along the border with Lebanon "for as long as required."

DW reported that US and regional officials said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a new ceasefire after heavy fighting in Lebanon put the wider Iran ceasefire under pressure, and it noted that Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed Friday peace talks were postponed with no new date given.

DW also reported that Lebanon’s Aoun told Rubio about the importance of a 'comprehensive ceasefire' in a call, and it quoted the Lebanese presidency post stressing "the need for Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory to cease through the achievement of a comprehensive ceasefire."

BBC said President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday that he asked them to agree to a ceasefire, while it also reported that the Israeli army announced strikes against Hezbollah targets after four of its soldiers were killed and said it struck more than 80 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in retaliation for what it described as ceasefire violations.