Lebanese Army deploys in areas vacated by Israelis as deadline passes

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media + Al Mayadeen
18 Feb 2025 01:27
1 Shares

Israeli occupation forces continue to occupy five points in border villages, despite the deadline for their withdrawal ending on February 18.

Listen

An Israeli military armored bulldozer and a utility vehicle cross the cement barrier near the Lebanese-Palestinian border near the southern border village of Dhayra, on February 17, 2025. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces have completed their withdrawal from South Lebanon while remaining stationed in five sites on the outskirts of border villages, the Israeli Army Radio reported early on Tuesday.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent also reported that the Lebanese Army is now deploying in the areas vacated by occupation forces, as the deadline for their full withdrawal has officially been reached.

Israeli occupation forces have been occupying southern Lebanese villages on the eastern section of the border, including Mays al-Jabal, Kfar Kila, Houla, Blida, and Mhaibib, all of which have been intensely bombed by occupation forces.

Although the original deadline for withdrawal was scheduled for January 27, 2024, a last-minute extension until February 18 was given to the Israeli regime. During the period of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli occupation forces demolished dozens of homes in the aforementioned villages while also gunning down civilians trying to reach their hometowns or retrieve the bodies of their martyred relatives.

Despite efforts to secure the withdrawal of occupation forces, Israeli troops will occupy five "strategic points" inside Lebanese territory beyond the deadline.

"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.

Lebanese officials have yet to issue a response to the Israeli decision, despite a quintet committee of the United States, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar vowing to pressure "Israel" into withdrawing from all Lebanese territory by Tuesday.