Many things have changed in Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement went into effect in the early hours of November 27, 2024, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, said.

In a joint statement released on Sunday, January 26, 2025, Hennis-Plasschaert and Lázaro highlighted the significant changes that unraveled.

According to the statement, there has been a "drastic" decrease in violence.

The statement detailed how hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens have returned to their homes and communities in many areas of southern Lebanon with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) demonstrating resolve by deploying to sites from which the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have withdrawn.

The statement failed to mention that Israeli occupation forces have remained in towns they should have withdrawn from by now. 

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that "Israel" will not meet the 60-day deadline for its full withdrawal from southern Lebanon, set for Sunday, January 26, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.

The statement continued that the LAF, with the support of UNIFIL, is assisting in restoring services and providing humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas.

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The officials also detailed how the continuing government formation process, which follows the election of a president and the appointment of a prime minister, is an important step toward increasing confidence between Lebanese residents and the state. These achievements also bode well for future support for the complete expansion of state power throughout all Lebanese land, as well as the country's rehabilitation, rebuilding, and growth.

However, the statement admitted "that the timelines envisaged in the November Understanding have not been met," without naming "Israel" as the side that did not respect them and that the LAF's deployment was delayed in certain areas due to the fact that the Israeli occupation did not withdraw from them as per the set timelines. 

Alluding to this morning's aggression by the IOF, the statement indicated that "conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages along the Blue Line. Displaced communities, already facing a long road to recovery and reconstruction, are therefore once again being called on to exercise caution."

Furthermore, the statement admitted that "violations of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) continue to be recorded daily," again without naming "Israel" as the side behind such violations, with their number exceeding 1,000. 

As thousands of southern Lebanese people gathered at the entrances to their hometowns, preparing to enter, the IOF responded by firing machine gun bursts and shells at civilians walking toward the towns, killing and injuring many. According to the latest toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry, "Israel" has killed 15 civilians and injured at least 83 others.

The UN statement urged "compliance by both parties with their obligations under the November Understanding and the full implementation of resolution 1701 constitute the only way to bring closure to the recent, dark chapter of conflict and open a new one, heralding security, stability, and prosperity on both sides of the Blue Line." 

"The United Nations continues to engage all actors towards this end and remains ready to support any action consistent with resolution 1701 and the efforts of the Implementation Mechanism to achieve the objectives of the November Understanding."

A flashback

Despite the failure to adhere to the withdrawal and ongoing violations in southern villages, "Israel"—under US backing—confirmed through Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office that its forces would not fully withdraw from South Lebanon after the expiration of the deadline. 

Hezbollah responded late Thursday, declaring that "any violation of the 60-day deadline is a blatant breach of the agreement and an escalation of the assault on Lebanese sovereignty." The Resistance movement emphasized that the Israeli occupation had entered a new phase that should be confronted by the Lebanese state using all available methods guaranteed by international law to reclaim and liberate the land.