BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/SANAA - Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group would confront Israel with weapons if attacked, stressing that threats of death would not deter its members.

"The project to eliminate Hezbollah and entrench the occupation has failed, and the Israelis will withdraw from every last inch of our land," Qassem said in a televised speech on al-Manar local TV channel.

He added that Lebanon was facing "the most dangerous stage" and an "American-Israeli project" targeting the future of the country, accusing Israel of seeking to turn Lebanon's political authority against the resistance movement and of obstructing reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the conflict.

Qassem also said Hezbollah's weapons are directed solely against Israel and called on Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ALSO READ: Israeli airstrikes leave 18 killed, 33 injured in southern Lebanon

His remarks came as an Israeli airstrike targeted the Jabal al-Rafee area near the southern Lebanese town of Sajd on Friday, shortly after a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect at 4 pm local time, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

Earlier in the day, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, a member of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc "Loyalty to the Resistance", said that the group would continue to abide by the ceasefire agreement provided that Israel also respects its terms.

Meanwhile, two people riding a motorcycle were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the road between Zebdine and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to NNA.

The strike occurred despite a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect at 4:00 pm local time that day.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 had risen to 3,980 people and 12,001 were injured. 

Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah with ‘heavy price’

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israel would not tolerate attacks on its soldiers and would "exact a very heavy price" from Hezbollah, after the Israeli military announced the deaths of four soldiers in southern Lebanon.

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said the attack by Hezbollah was "a flagrant violation of the ceasefire", adding that he had instructed the Israeli military overnight to strike Hezbollah "with force".

The Israeli military said earlier in the day that four soldiers were killed during fighting in southern Lebanon.

According to Israeli media, the incident occurred shortly after midnight when a suspected drone or anti-tank missile hit an Israeli tank in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit. The military said the exact cause of the explosion was under investigation.

Netanyahu said the Israeli military had struck more than 80 targets and killed dozens of Hezbollah fighters following the attack, before later targeting Hezbollah command posts in the Bekaa Valley.

ALSO READ: Report: 4 killed in Israeli drone strikes in S. Lebanon despite US-Iran MoU

He also said Israel would remain in what it calls a "security zone" in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect communities in northern Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire despite a ceasefire arrangement, raising concerns over further escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Lebanese president: Comprehensive ceasefire key to talks  

In Beirut, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said  a comprehensive ceasefire is a fundamental prerequisite for advancing Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations in Washington next week, according to NNA.

During a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Aoun called for an end to Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory and underscored that the new round of talks aim to restore Lebanon's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, NNA reported.

Rubio reaffirmed US support for Lebanon and efforts to achieve security and stability, extend state authority across all Lebanese territory, and strengthen the country's legitimate institutions, particularly the Lebanese Army, NNA added.

Report: US eyes partial Israeli withdrawal

Also on Friday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported the United States has initiated a pilot plan for a partial Israeli military withdrawal from the "security zone" it holds in southern Lebanon.

According to the report, the plan includes dismantling Hezbollah by facilitating the Lebanese army to enter areas currently under Israeli control.

READ MORE: Israel strikes S. Lebanon despite Iran-US deal, killing 1, injuring journalist

It added that although Netanyahu stressed earlier Friday that the Israeli presence in the "security zone" would continue "as long as necessary", analyses are already assessing potential withdrawal areas for the US-backed initiative.

Yemen's Houthis warn against ‘further Israeli escalation’

In Sanaa, Yemen's Houthi group on Friday warned Israel against expanding its military operations in Lebanon, saying it was prepared to respond to "any further escalation in the region".

In a statement aired by the group's Al-Masirah television channel, the Houthis accused Israel of violating an Iran-US ceasefire memorandum of understanding covering multiple fronts, including Lebanon, saying that continued Israeli military actions risked undermining regional de-escalation efforts.

The group warned that the axis of resistance would not remain passive in the face of what it described as ongoing Israeli aggression and reiterated its readiness to confront any developments involving the United States and Israel.