Senior Israeli officials told The New York Times that the IDF has been operating under new restrictions in southern Lebanon, despite public assurances from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz that troops have “full freedom of action.”

According to the report, new orders issued Saturday instructed commanders that soldiers may open fire only in response to an immediate threat unless they receive direct authorization from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

The report, citing two Israeli officials speaking anonymously, said the directives also prohibit soldiers from firing warning shots at civilians attempting to return to southern Lebanon unless they approach too closely to Israeli forces.

In addition, troops are reportedly barred from demolishing homes or other infrastructure within the security zone without approval from senior commanders.

The reported restrictions appear to conflict with statements made Monday by Netanyahu, who declared, “My directive, and that of the Minister of Defense, to the IDF is clear and has not changed: Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or developing threat to them or to the residents of the North. The IDF has no restrictions on this matter.”

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz issued a similar statement, saying, “The security of Israel’s citizens and the safety of our forces stand above every other consideration. IDF commanders and soldiers have the full backing of the Prime Minister, myself, and the IDF’s senior leadership—and full freedom of action to act decisively against any threat.”

The IDF has not publicly commented on the reported operational directives.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)