Despite the ceasefire, Israel warns that its soldiers can strike freely in Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Sunday that Israeli forces retain full authority to act against threats in Lebanon, despite the recent ceasefire with Hezbollah. He said Israeli troops remain deployed in what Israel calls a "security zone" along the border.

This statement comes two days after a truce between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group supported by Iran, came into effect. The agreement has led to a significant decrease in violence after several months of military escalation that severely destabilized the region.

However, tensions persisted on Saturday. According to the official Lebanese news agency NNA, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people in Lebanon. Israel claims the attacks were in retaliation for projectiles fired at its soldiers in the south of the country and that they targeted Hezbollah positions.

For its part, a Hezbollah official told Reuters that the movement respected the ceasefire as long as Israel did the same. However, he rejected the idea that Israeli forces could operate freely in southern Lebanon, deeming such a presence unacceptable.

According to this official, Hezbollah fighters have not fired on Israeli troops since 18:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. Security sources also told Reuters that Israel has not carried out any major airstrikes in Lebanon since that same time.

This lull represents the longest interruption of major bombings since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2nd. It fuels hopes for lasting stability, even though statements from both sides show that mistrust remains significant.

The situation in Lebanon is also among the topics discussed at the peace talks being held Sunday in Switzerland between US and Iranian officials. Tehran indicated that the future of the ceasefire in Lebanon was a central element of the discussions, emphasizing the strategic importance of this issue for the entire region.