'Israel' to occupy five 'strategic points' in Lebanon beyond deadline
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The Israeli occupation forces are set to maintain a prolonged presence in five strategic points in Lebanon after the date of the agreed-upon deadline.
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Lebanese soldiers enter a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese village of Aitaroun, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 (AP)
Israeli occupation forces will remain stationed at five "strategic points" inside Lebanese territory beyond Tuesday’s deadline for troop withdrawal, the Israeli military announced.
"Based on the current situation, we will leave small amounts of troops deployed temporarily in five strategic points along the border in Lebanon so we can continue to defend our residents and to make sure there's no immediate threat," Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists on Monday.
The announcement comes as tensions remain high along the border as despite international calls for de-escalation, the Israeli military stance signals an intention to maintain a foothold in Lebanese territory.
Lebanese officials have yet to issue a response to the Israeli decision, but Hezbollah has repeatedly vowed to resist any prolonged Israeli presence in Lebanon.
The Israeli occupation continues its assaults on civilians, carrying out explosions in towns from which it has yet to withdraw, setting homes on fire, and launching airstrikes on areas in the south and the Beqaa region.
As the February 18 deadline for the Israeli military's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon approaches—an extension from the initially scheduled withdrawal on January 26, 2025, under the ceasefire agreement—the occupation remains adamant about keeping its forces in five positions in Southern Lebanon; al-Hamames, al-Azziyah, al-Owaidah, Jabal Blat, and al-Labouneh, a stance met with Lebanese opposition.
Escalating aggression on Lebanon
Israeli fighter jets launched an airstrike on the Wadi al-Zein area in the outskirts of Bouday, a town in Eastern Lebanon's Baalbek district, the National News Agency (NNA) reported on Sunday. Additionally, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent confirmed that an Israeli air raid targeted the outskirts of Harbata, another town in the Beqaa region. The extent of damage or casualties from these strikes remains unclear.
Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen correspondents reported that Israeli forces executed demolitions in several areas, including, Tallet Labouneh, opposite Alma al-Shaab and Naqoura in the Tyre district; Mays al-Jabal, where two detonations were recorded; Kfar Kila, where Israeli forces carried out three demolitions within hours.
Additionally, Israeli forces demolished multiple homes in the town of Yaroun in the Bint Jbeil district, with two large-scale demolitions occurring less than an hour apart.
Amid these escalations, Israeli occupation forces released two Lebanese citizens they had abducted earlier in the day while they were entering the eastern neighborhood of Houla, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Southern Lebanon.
One female was killed and several others were injured and detained after Israeli forces opened fire on residents in the town of Houla, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon reported on Sunday.
Undeterred by Israeli attacks, the residents of the town had arrived to inspect their homes near the Israeli al-Abbad military site, after bypassing a Lebanese army checkpoint and an earthen barrier.
Our correspondent said the residents began searching for the bodies of martyrs in the town, despite it not yet being officially declared liberated.
