Israeli soldiers in Lebanon say new open-fire restrictions leave them exposed

IDF forces deployed to southern Lebanon say the army has dramatically narrowed its open-fire rules.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli soldiers and commanders operating in southern Lebanon say the IDF recently narrowed its open-fire rules, leaving troops more exposed to Hezbollah attacks as diplomatic pressure grows over the future of the Lebanese front.

The claims come amid uncertainty over a US-Iran memorandum of understanding that addresses the fighting in Lebanon and as President Donald Trump has publicly pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show greater restraint in the sector.

According to the report, soldiers in the field say their ability to respond to Hezbollah fire has been reduced in recent days, even as the group continues to launch drones, anti-tank missiles and other attacks at Israeli forces positioned deep inside southern Lebanon.

“The open-fire rules right now are only to remove threats,” one source told Israel Hayom.

Another source said the situation has left troops vulnerable after the army’s recent advance beyond Beaufort and the Litani River, where Israeli forces have taken positions overlooking parts of southern Lebanon, including the Nabatieh area.

“No one understands what is happening,” the source said, describing confusion among commanders over Israel’s objectives and the political direction of the campaign.

The comments came after a series of Hezbollah attacks on Israeli troops.

The IDF said five soldiers were wounded Wednesday morning when Hezbollah FPV drones struck near a tank and then an evacuation vehicle in Kfar Tebnit, close to Nabatieh.

Later Wednesday, Master Sgt. (res.) Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, was killed and seven other soldiers were wounded when a Hezbollah explosive device detonated near forces operating along the Litani River.

The Israel Hayom report said troops had taken shelter in fortified buildings and other strong positions to reduce casualties, but that Hezbollah terrorists were increasingly identifying those positions and targeting them from a distance.

“The fire continues,” one source told the paper, adding that soldiers felt like “sitting ducks on the ridge.”

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit did not respond to Israel Hayom’s request for comment.

The reported change in field instructions follows Trump’s criticism of Israel’s conduct in Lebanon.

Reuters reported that Trump said Netanyahu should use a “softer touch,” arguing that heavy Israeli strikes in response to limited attacks were damaging Israel’s image.

The Lebanon front has become a central issue in the emerging US-Iran framework. Reuters reported that Hezbollah believes Iran will press for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in the next stage of negotiations with Washington, while Iranian officials have said continued Israeli operations in Lebanon could affect the broader diplomatic process.

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have rejected pressure for a full withdrawal, saying Israel will maintain security zones in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria as needed to protect its borders.

Israeli forces have expanded their operations in southern Lebanon in recent weeks, including around Beaufort Castle and the Ali al-Taher ridge, an area analysts describe as strategically significant because it overlooks Nabatieh and key Hezbollah routes in the region.

But soldiers quoted by Israel Hayom said the army’s advance has now largely stopped, while Hezbollah attacks have continued. The result, they said, is that Israeli troops remain forward-deployed in exposed positions while operating under more restrictive rules of engagement.