Defense Minister Israel Katz Directs IDF to Maintain Full Force Operations Throughout Lebanon Ceasefire

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructs the IDF to protect troops with full force and dismantle Hezbollah outposts in Lebanon despite the ongoing ceasefire.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 19, 2026, 10:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Authorization of Maximum Force During Truce

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a significant military directive, mandating that the Israel Defense Forces operate with their full capabilities to preemptively address security risks in Lebanon. Speaking at an event in the West Bank, Katz clarified that the standing ceasefire does not preclude the use of aggressive measures if Israeli troops are deemed to be in danger. This policy shifts the operational framework from a defensive posture to one where the military is authorized to strike with total intensity from both the air and on the ground.

Strategic Command from State Leadership

The Defense Minister emphasized that this specific instruction was a coordinated decision made alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Katz, the primary objective is to ensure that no Israeli soldier is exposed to threats while operating within Lebanese territory. By explicitly including the ceasefire period in this directive, the Israeli leadership is signaling to regional actors that the cessation of major hostilities will not serve as a shield for activities that could jeopardize IDF personnel.

Systematic Removal of Frontier Outposts

A key component of the new military order involves the physical alteration of the landscape along the Lebanon-Israel border. Katz announced that the IDF has been ordered to dismantle and remove houses within frontline villages that have been categorized as Hezbollah terror outposts. The Defense Ministry maintains that these structures were utilized in every respect to facilitate threats against Israeli civilian communities, necessitating their complete destruction to prevent future incursions or surveillance.