IDF Chief Eyal Zamir Declares Lebanon Primary Combat Zone as Iran Truce Remains Fragile

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir confirms Israel remains at war in Lebanon despite the Iran ceasefire, following a visit to the Bint Jbeil front on April 9, 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 2:58 AM EDT

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

Lebanon Front Defined as Active War Zone

The Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, conducted a high-level operational assessment on Thursday near the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil. Speaking to field commanders on the front lines, Zamir explicitly stated that the IDF does not consider itself to be in a state of ceasefire regarding the Lebanese theater. He defined the ongoing ground and air campaign against Hezbollah as the military's most critical active sector, emphasizing that the objective remains the systematic removal of direct threats to Israel's northern communities.

Divergent Rules of Engagement for Tehran and Beirut

The General's remarks highlighted a significant strategic decoupling between the conflict in Lebanon and the broader regional war involving the Islamic Republic. While a two-week, US-brokered truce with Iran commenced on April 8, Zamir clarified that these terms do not extend to Hezbollah’s operations. According to Zamir, the IDF is maintaining full combat tempo in Lebanon to prevent the militant group from exploiting the Iranian pause to reconstitute its forces. This distinction reinforces the Israeli cabinet's position that Lebanese territorial threats must be addressed independently of diplomatic progress with Tehran.

Readiness for Resumption of Direct Iranian Hostilities

Despite the current cessation of direct strikes between Israel and Iran, Zamir issued a stern warning regarding the fragility of the 14-day agreement. In a video released by military authorities on Friday morning, the Chief of Staff noted that Israel possesses the capability to return to active combat against the Iranian regime "in a very powerful way" without prior notice. This rhetoric appears designed to deter Iran from utilizing its proxies to circumvent the spirit of the ceasefire, particularly following recent accusations of drone incursions targeting Gulf infrastructure.