Lebanese officials salute Southern resilience, urge IOF withdrawal
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Lebanese leaders hailed the unwavering dedication of their people to the nation, highlighting their embodiment of genuine patriotism.
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Lebanese women carry a flag and wear scarves bearing an image of martyr leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah as they gather in Borj El Mlouk on January 26, 2025, behind an Israeli roadblock across a road leading to their village in southern Lebanon (AFP)
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri honored the resilience of the people in southern Lebanon on Sunday, as they defied threats and returned to their border villages after the expiration of the 60-day deadline for the Israeli occupation forces’ withdrawal, in line with the ceasefire agreement.
Berri's message celebrated the unwavering commitment of the people to their homeland, emphasizing their embodiment of true patriotism and the enduring strength of Lebanon’s sovereignty in the face of occupation.
In a heartfelt statement to the people of the South, Berri declared, "Your actions today stand as a testament to the embodiment of true patriotism, to your unwavering loyalty to Lebanon, its message, and the pursuit of freedom."
He further emphasized, "Your courage and resilience have proven that a homeland fortified by determination as resolute as yours, with a strength burning like embers, cannot be subdued. This is a homeland destined to triumph, no matter the challenges it faces."
Berri went on to highlight how the people of southern Lebanon are showcasing their profound national pride, demonstrating that the land, like honor, is worth any sacrifice, and underscoring that true sovereignty is a tangible action, not merely an empty slogan.
He emphasized that the bloodshed witnessed today, with more martyrs and casualties, serves as undeniable evidence of "Israel’s" ongoing violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Berri concluded, "We continue to mourn martyr after martyr across the South, Bekaa, the southern suburbs, and all of Lebanon... Blessed are the mothers, blessed are you, people of the south, guardians of our land, sovereignty, and independence."
Lebanese PM salutes the steadfast people of the South
Commenting on the developments in the South and the Israeli violations of the ceasefire, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam expressed full confidence in the army's role in protecting Lebanon's sovereignty and ensuring the safe return of people in the South. Salam also spoke with President Joseph Aoun to follow up on the developments in the South.
In a statement from the Prime Minister's office, Salam said: "On this day, when the people of the wounded South expressed their attachment to their land and identity despite Israeli threats, we extend our salute to our steadfast people in the South or those who were forced to flee because of the aggression, especially those who decided to return today and face the aggression with courage."
"Your patriotism has become an example and a testimony written in blood that no right is lost for those who continue to demand it."
Salam further emphasized the need for the countries that brokered the ceasefire agreement to uphold their responsibilities in preventing further aggression and compelling "Israel" to withdraw from the occupied territories. He made it clear to the relevant parties that any deviation from the commitments outlined in the ceasefire or the failure to enforce Resolution 1701 would lead to serious consequences.
Descendants of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah cannot be defeated: Lahoud
In the same context, former President Emile Lahoud highlighted that "Israel" is once again attempting to deceive through agreements and falsehoods, with the support of its Western allies.
This strategy, as per the former Lebanese president, aims to achieve what it was unable to secure during the brutal war it waged against Lebanon.
Lahoud said in a statement: "The result of the war was clear, despite the media distortion, as evidenced by the fact that the enemy was unable to return settlers to the northern occupied territories. Instead, they resorted to violating the ceasefire daily, destroying and assassinating, but all this did not prevent the repetition of the scene we witnessed in 2000, when we were part of it."
"The people returned to their villages despite the Israeli threats because their strength lies not only in their weapons but in the extraordinary determination that drives them to head to their towns, even if they are still occupied, to confront the enemy's tanks and soldiers with their bodies," he stressed.
Lahoud emphasized that the people of Lebanon, "descendants of the hero martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah", cannot be defeated, no matter how many forces are mobilized against them.
He pointed out that with each martyr who falls, countless new resistance fighters rise to continue the struggle. According to Lahoud, the unwavering equation that ensures Lebanon's protection is the unity of the army, the people, and the Resistance, a principle grounded in a deep, unshakable belief that transcends mere rhetoric.
This comes as thousands of Southerners gathered at the entrances of their villages, preparing to enter after the 60-day deadline expired. The occupying Israeli units responded by firing machine gun bursts and shells at civilians walking toward the towns of Houla and Mays al-Jabal, resulting in one martyr and nine injuries among the residents of Kafr Kila and Aitaroun. According to the latest toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry, "Israel" has killed three civilians and injured at least 44 others.
