Warns Israel, threatens ‘to act with force’
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz yesterday accused Lebanese group Hezbollah of not meeting the terms of a ceasefire, warning that if the militants continued to breach the deal, Israel would "be forced to act".
Katz issued his warning after visiting the military's northern command and it followed a similar accusation against Israel by Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Saturday.
Katz said Hezbollah had still not withdrawn "beyond the Litani river" in southern Lebanon, as stipulated in the ceasefire deal.
He added that "if this condition is not met, there will be no agreement and Israel will be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return of residents of the north to their homes."
UN accuses Israel of ceasefire breach as Hezbollah says losing patience
Other provisions had not been implemented, Katz said, such the "dismantling of all (Hezbollah) weapons and the thwarting of terrorist infrastructures in the area by the Lebanese army".
On Saturday, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon accused Israel of a "flagrant violation" of the 2006 Security Council resolution that forms the basis of its November ceasefire with Hezbollah.
The statement from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came as Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned the militant group's patience with Israeli violations could run out before the end of the ceasefire's 60-day implementation timeframe.
"We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations and to implement the agreement and we will exercise patience," Qassem said.
The fragile truce, which took effect on November 27 after two months of full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, has been marked by accusations of violations from both sides.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz yesterday accused Lebanese group Hezbollah of not meeting the terms of a ceasefire, warning that if the militants continued to breach the deal, Israel would "be forced to act".
Katz issued his warning after visiting the military's northern command and it followed a similar accusation against Israel by Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Saturday.
Katz said Hezbollah had still not withdrawn "beyond the Litani river" in southern Lebanon, as stipulated in the ceasefire deal.
He added that "if this condition is not met, there will be no agreement and Israel will be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return of residents of the north to their homes."
UN accuses Israel of ceasefire breach as Hezbollah says losing patience
Other provisions had not been implemented, Katz said, such the "dismantling of all (Hezbollah) weapons and the thwarting of terrorist infrastructures in the area by the Lebanese army".
On Saturday, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon accused Israel of a "flagrant violation" of the 2006 Security Council resolution that forms the basis of its November ceasefire with Hezbollah.
The statement from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came as Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned the militant group's patience with Israeli violations could run out before the end of the ceasefire's 60-day implementation timeframe.
"We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations and to implement the agreement and we will exercise patience," Qassem said.
The fragile truce, which took effect on November 27 after two months of full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, has been marked by accusations of violations from both sides.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.