Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that “there is no ceasefire” on the ground in southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire despite a truce that has been in place for nearly two weeks.

Speaking during a visit to Israeli troops deployed in the border village of Taybeh in southern Lebanon, Zamir said the Israeli army would maintain its positions and continue operations until threats to northern Israeli communities are fully eliminated.

“In Lebanon, the mission assigned to us by the political echelon is to position ourselves along the line to prevent direct fire on the communities. We have achieved this; this is the line we are on. We may be required to remain on it,” Zamir said, according to remarks released by the military.

He stressed that Israeli forces would not withdraw from the security buffer zone they currently hold in southern Lebanon until long-term security is guaranteed.

“We will not tolerate attacks and fire on our communities, and we will not leave until long-term security for the northern communities is ensured,” he said.

Zamir added that Israeli forces are continuing active combat operations despite the truce.

“On the combat front, there is no ceasefire; you continue to fight, to remove direct and indirect threats from the northern communities, to thwart terror infrastructure, to locate and kill terrorists,” he said.

He also signaled that Israeli operations could extend beyond previously defined boundaries.

“Any threat, anywhere, to our communities or our forces, including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani River, will be removed. Your mission and duty are to act with freedom of action and remove any threat,” he said.

“At this stage we are not advancing beyond the line, but we will continue to act and remove threats freely,” he added, emphasizing that there are no restrictions on targeting infrastructure or militants.