Hezbollah says Lebanon is bound by ceasefire but rejects negotiations with Israel

(Reuters) -Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Thursday that the militia group had “a legitimate right to resist (Israeli) occupation”, adding that it would support the Lebanese army.

Hezbollah also said that, while Lebanon was bound by a ceasefire, it was not obligated to be drawn into political negotiations with Israel.

Last week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun instructed the army to confront any Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon after Israeli forces crossed the border overnight and killed a municipal employee, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

“We affirm our legitimate right to resist occupation and aggression and to stand by our army and our people to protect the sovereignty of our country,” the group said.

Hezbollah also said that it was exercising its right to defend itself agains