Brigadier-General (Brig.-Gen.) Yuval Gez, commander of the Galilee Division, sent a message on Friday to residents of the northern border, local authorities' heads, security coordinators, and the regional council heads, clarifying that the rules of engagement have not changed.
His message comes amid claims from local residents of a weakening of deterrence in recent days, after Lebanese individuals, allegedly civilians, were seen approaching up to 80 meters from the border with Israel.
"Division 91 and the IDF as a whole are working day and night to prevent the rehabilitation of the Hezbollah terror organization in southern Lebanon.
Our soldiers, both regular and reservists, carry out raids, destroy infrastructure, and thwart terrorists every day, and we maintain extensive operational freedom," wrote Brig.-Gen. Gez in his letter.
The division commander confirmed an increase in attempts to approach agricultural areas during the olive harvest, emphasizing that forces are taking action to distance the suspects.
"We will not allow Hezbollah activity or rehabilitation at the front and will continue to act offensively and consistently," he clarified.
"We will continue our ongoing dialogue with you and examine every claim or request, with the goal of ensuring your security." Gez wrote. Next week, the division will conduct a full-scale exercise, the largest since the beginning of the war.
IDF targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
On Sunday, the IDF killed a Hezbollah operative near the village of Kalbiyya in southern Lebanon, who was involved in rehabilitating the organization's military infrastructure.
Additionally, the IDF attacked an engineering vehicle used for the same purposes by the organization near the village of Blida in the southern region.
"The Hezbollah terror organization continues its attempts to rehabilitate terror infrastructure throughout Lebanon, while endangering Lebanese civilians and using them as human shields. The actions of the terrorist and the attempts to rehabilitate military infrastructure in southern Lebanon constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," said an IDF spokesperson.