Hezbollah Official Claims Group ‘Forced’ Israel Into Ceasefire

A senior Hezbollah official claimed on Sunday that the Iranian-backed terror group is "stronger than before" and had successfully "forced" a ceasefire on Israel. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah continues to challenge the terms of the agreement with Jerusalem and Beirut.

Wafiq Safa, a key Hezbollah operative and brother-in-law of the group's former leader Hassan Nasrallah, spoke from the site of an Israeli strike, dismissing the notion that Hezbollah had been weakened. “Hezbollah was not defeated, and Hezbollah will not be defeated,” Safa declared, adding that the group’s resolve is stronger than iron.

“For those who are deluded that Hezbollah has become weak, for those who are deluded that Hezbollah is not what it was, I say that Hezbollah is stronger than it was,” he continued.

He claimed that Israel’s failure to push deeper into Lebanon was proof of its defeat, insisting that Hezbollah had created a sense of insecurity across Israel and dictated the terms of the ceasefire.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pushed back on Hezbollah’s claims, warning that the ceasefire agreement would be void if Hezbollah refuses to withdraw beyond the Litani River.

“The first condition for the implementation of the agreement is the complete withdrawal of the Hezbollah terror organization beyond the Litani River, the dismantling of all weapons, and the removal of the terror infrastructure in the area by the Lebanese army something that hasn’t happened yet,” Katz stated.

The agreement, set to unfold over 60 days, requires Israel to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, where the IDF has been operating since October. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army is supposed to replace IDF forces in these areas and ensure Hezbollah retreats north of the Litani River, approximately 18 miles from the Israeli border.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has conducted several targeted strikes in southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah’s violations of the agreement. The IDF reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security, stating:

“The IDF continues to be committed to the understandings regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon, is deployed in southern Lebanon, and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein confirmed on Monday that the IDF had begun withdrawing from Naqura, a strategic border town where UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) has been headquartered since 1978.

“These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely,” Hochstein stated, adding that the Lebanese army is expected to deploy throughout the area to enforce the agreement.

As Hezbollah continues to defy international agreements, the question remains whether Lebanon’s government will enforce the terror group’s withdrawal or allow it to maintain a military presence in the south.

With Israel vowing to uphold the agreement only if Hezbollah complies, the fragile ceasefire could be at risk potentially leading to another round of conflict on Israel’s northern border.

Israel remains vigilant against the Hezbollah threat. Share this story and stay informed by subscribing to our newsletter.