Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Unarmed, heads held high, southern Lebanese defy Israeli invaders

  • By Ahmad Karakira
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 26 Jan 2025 20:15
  • 6 Shares
4 Min Read

With the Israeli occupation forces continuing to wreak havoc in their towns, the southern Lebanese took it upon themselves to retrieve their land from its invaders.

Listen
  • x
  • Lebanon
    Residents fly Hezbollah flags near an Israeli military vehicle as people gather in Borj al-Molouk on January 26, 2025, after crossing an Israeli roadblock on a road leading to Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon (AFP)

Southern Lebanese people didn't wait long before deciding to return to their towns and villages devastated by Israeli assaults, after the 60-day deadline set for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the area expired at 4:00 am on January 26, 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that the Israeli military would not meet the deadline set for its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, in a breach of the terms of the ceasefire agreement that ended the war, further exposing "Israel's" aggressive and expansionist nature.

With the deadline expiring, Netanyahu deciding unilaterally to stay, the Israeli army issuing warnings for the Lebanese not to return, and invading Israeli occupation forces continuing to wreak havoc in their towns, the southern Lebanese took it upon themselves to liberate their land from its invaders, with some choosing to erect tents over their demolished homes to cement their presence on their land in the face of Israeli savagery.

Residents of #SouthLebanon forced their way in the early hours of the morning into their hometowns and homes on the border despite the presence of Israeli occupation forces who violated the ceasefire agreement and stayed in Lebanese territory beyond January 26.

Israeli gunfire… pic.twitter.com/OZXvd2X5iM

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 26, 2025

With spontaneous popular calls a day prior, the rightful owners of the land set off in their vehicles and flocked to Lebanese territory invaded by the Israeli military to translate the quote "what was taken by force can only be restored by force" into real action.

Unarmed and on foot, southern Lebanese men, women, elders, and children broke the barriers erected to prevent them from reaching their land and stood strong in the face of the Israeli war machine, with its forces and vehicles, confronting them with revolutionary chants, flags of Lebanon and Resistance groups, photos of their martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the sake of defending Lebanon, spearheaded by martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's former Secretary-General, who was cowardly assassinated by "Israel" in late September 2024.

In an absolute show of defiance, a Lebanese woman stands in front of Israeli occupation soldiers in South #Lebanon.

Israeli bullets intended to intimidate did not faze the woman who reiterated that this land belongs to her and the Lebanese people. pic.twitter.com/fYtEh67KVQ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 26, 2025

Israeli occupation forces responded by doing what they know best: mobilizing their troops and vehicles to suppress the popular resistance, opening fire on the unarmed Lebanese people, killing 22, including Lebanese soldiers, injuring more than 100, and detaining others.

Related News

In new aggression, IOF launch airstrikes on South Lebanon, Bekaa

Two Lebanese martyred in Israeli drone strike on Dabaal, South Lebanon

In one instance and in yet another blatant and documented Israeli assault, a Merkava tank went after unarmed Lebanese civilians in Odaisseh, who were trying to return home following the end of the 60-day withdrawal deadline for Israeli occupation forces as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27, 2024.

However, even as the tank pursued and opened fire on the people, one defiant hand rose, flashing the victory sign in the face of the Israeli aggressor, declaring that no amount of firepower can suppress the will to reclaim what is justly theirs.

So, undeterred and with their heads held high, the resilient southern Lebanese defied Israeli terrorism and stood fearlessly in the face of the Israeli troops and tanks, insisting on liberating every inch of their land, before the raiding forces retreated from swathes of these areas in the face of their might.

Circulating video documents the moment an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near unarmed civilians in South #Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/r3mZUF30MV

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 26, 2025

The residents of #BintJbeil return to their homes after the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from #SouthLebanon had officially expired as per the ceasefire agreement.

Filmed by colleague Hussein Sayed@HusseinHsayed #LebanonCeasefire#Lebanon https://t.co/geOdEqgFtd

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 26, 2025

The scenes of January 26 are reminiscent of those from the year 2000, after a human flood, in parallel with military operations by the Lebanese Resistance, liberated the South from the Israeli occupation and arrogance.

Today's scenes also brought back to life the scenes of the proud Lebanese people returning to their towns and villages in the South after the Resistance dealt "Israel" a severe blow and repelled its aggression on Lebanon in 2006.

They returned ready to stay on the rubble of their homes destroyed by the brutal Israeli war machine. 

Citing a phrase from the speech of martyr Sayyed Nasrallah at the celebration of the victory of July 2006: "Our honorable people… Today, you astonish the world once again, proving beyond doubt that you are a proud, loyal, and courageous nation," the Military Media Unit of the Islamic Resistance hailed the return of the southern Lebanese to their villages, 

Read more: Lebanese officials salute Southern resilience, urge IOF withdrawal

  • South Lebanon
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Southern Lebanon
  • Israeli occupation
  • Lebanon

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS