Hezbollah releases defiant first statement since ceasefire

Hezbollah has vowed that its "forces remain fully prepared to counter Israeli aggression and ambitions" in its first statement since Wednesday's ceasefire with Israel came into effect.

The group said it will continue to monitor Israeli forces to ensure they withdraw from Lebanon within the 60-day period as stipulated in the agreement. 

Hezbollah referred to the ceasefire as a "glorious occasion", framing it as a major Israeli concession and ultimate defeat.

Since 8 October 2023, the group said it carried out more than 4637 military operations over 417 days "at a rate of 11 operations per day".

"These operations targeted the sites, barracks and bases of the Israeli enemy army, and Israeli cities and settlements starting from the Lebanese-Palestinian border to beyond the city of Tel Aviv, and also included heroic confrontation of the enemy forces’ ground incursions into Lebanese territory," Hezbollah said.