In first, IDF calls off attack on Hezbollah after Lebanese army springs into action - Yonah Jeremy Bob

 

​ by Yonah Jeremy Bob

In early 2025, top IDF sources told The Post that the Lebanese army was doing a much improved job in eliminating left-over Hezballah weapons and positions in southern Lebanon.

 

A sign on the border between Israel and Lebanon reads 'Stop! border ahead,' in northern Israel, November 16, 2025

(photo credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)

 

In an unprecedented move, the IDF has called off an attack almost in real time against Hezbollah in response to the Lebanese army’s swift action to deal with the situation, the military said on Saturday night.

At around 3 p.m. on Saturday, the IDF issued a standard warning for an attack against Hezbollah forces located inside a residential area, in this case, the southern Lebanese village of Yanouh.

Usually, within hours of such a warning, which gives civilians time to evacuate, the air force strikes the targets.

#عاجل ‼️ إنذار عاجل إلى سكان جنوب لبنان وتحديدًا في قرية يانوح
🔸سيهاجم جيش الدفاع على المدى الزمني القريب بنى تحتية عسكرية تابعة لحزب الله الإرهابي وذلك للتعامل مع المحاولات المحظورة التي يقوم بها حزب الله لإعادة إعمار أنشطته في المنطقة
🔸نحث سكان المبنى المحدد بالأحمر في… pic.twitter.com/1MHfzpwM6J

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) December 13, 2025

However, in this case, the IDF issued an unprecedented second message at around 6:30 p.m., stating that shortly after its public warning, the Lebanese army requested time to address the issue. Next, the IDF said that the Lebanese Armed Forces had deployed to the area to address the matter.

דיווחים בלבנון על עימותים בין הצבא וכוח יוניפי"ל לבין תושבים בעיירה יאנוח באזור צור בדרום לבנון אחרי שהצבא ויוניפי"ל הגיעו לשם לסרוק בית בעקבות בקשה של וועדת הפיקוח על הפסקת האש. דוגמית קטנה לקשיים בתכנית לפירוק חיזבאללה מנשקו pic.twitter.com/3thaF5suX4

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) December 13, 2025

 

The military said that it is keeping an eye on whether the Lebanese army comprehensively deals with the Hezbollah threat in Yanouh.

Early this year, top IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post that the Lebanese army was doing a much-improved job in eliminating remaining Hezbollah weapons and positions in southern Lebanon.

However, in recent months, IDF sources told the Post that this trend had reversed, prompting the IDF to take more aggressive action in Lebanon.

Israel has expressed hope that the Lebanese army’s actions in this and other cases will be more serious so as to roll back Hezbollah and make it unnecessary for the IDF to undertake a larger operation against the terrorist group to prevent it from rearming.

IDF strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the week

The military also announced that it struck southern Lebanon on Friday. It added that the strikes were carried out on Hezbollah training compounds as part of an ongoing military campaign to target and eliminate violations of the peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

“The IDF struck a training and qualification compound used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Force to conduct training and courses for the organization’s terrorists,” the statement said, noting that another training camp was struck earlier this week.

As part of the training conducted in the compound, the army said, terrorists underwent shooting exercises and additional training on the use of various types of weapons, intended for planning and executing terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.

This comes as the IDF has increased its operations around the northern border. In strikes on Monday, the military targeted another training camp, military structures, and a missile launch site.

Corinne Baum and Shoshana Baker contributed to this report.

 

Yonah Jeremy Bob

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-880150

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