Middle East: residents return to the South Libanon to Israel’s deduction

After months of presence, the Israeli military has cleared the majority of its positions in the south of Lebanon. Except for five strategic points near the border, the army has been deducted from all areas, Israeli media reported. For the first time in months, residents flocked back to their home villages. While many of them found houses and devastation, the Lebanese government is pushing to complete the remaining Israeli troops in the country.

Waffenruhe agreements provided for complete deduction

The ceasefire, which had been agreed at the end of November after a year of the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah, provided for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Lebanon to this day. The deadline was already extended at the end of January.

Israel justified the whereabouts in five positions near the border by the fact that the Lebanese army had not moved up quickly enough and had not fulfilled its obligations. Israel fears further attacks by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, especially in the north of the country. Around 60,000 inhabitants of the Israeli north fled during the war, most of them have so far not returned to the partially destroyed places of residence.

Israel’s Minister of Defense: The North Security has priority

An Israeli military spokesman said that the “temporary measure” had been agreed with the international commission listed by the USA and France, which is intended to watch the ceasefire agreement and who also belong to Israel, Lebanon and the UN peacekeeping unifil. There was no official confirmation from another side.

The Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced that Israel would “remain overview in a buffer zone in Lebanon in five bases and act with strength and without compromise against any violation by the HISBOLLAH”. It was determined to ensure the security of the inhabitants of the Israeli north. Therefore, many other items would also be set up on the Israeli side of the border and reinforced with troops, said Katz, according to his office.

There was no longer active shelling on Israel during the ceasefire. Libanon’s army repeatedly accused Israel attacks on Lebanese territory. The Hisbollah has also been repeatedly accused of violations. During the ceasefire, several people were killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon.

Lebanon calls for complete withdrawal of the Israeli troops

Meanwhile, the Lebanese leadership confirmed its demand for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon. After a meeting of President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nauaf Salam and the Parliament President Nabih Berri alleged with the Hezbollah, she informed this in a joint statement.

You can see the ongoing Israeli presence on Lebanese soil as a crew. The government is working with the surveillance commission, led by the USA, France, Lebanon, Israel, the Unifil and the Red Cross, further on the liberation of the prisoners captured by Israel.

Aoun also announced that the Lebanon was working through diplomatic contacts with the USA and France to promote the complete troop deduction of Israel. “The Lebanese are tired of living between barricades after paying a high price.”

Hezbollah boss Naim Kassim had threatened the Israelis in a television speech before the deadline: If her troops remain in Lebanon beyond February 18, it was a crew – and everyone knew how to “handle a crew” .

The United Nations also criticized the delayed deduction of the Israeli troops from Lebanon. “Another delay of this process is not what we had hoped for,” said a joint explanation of the UN observer mission Unifil in Lebanon and the responsible UN special coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plaschaert. They positively evaluated the Israeli retreat from residential areas and the use of the Lebanese army.

Residents return under joy singing

After the withdrawal of the Israeli troops, the Lebanese army announced that it had moved up into towns cleared by Israel. The military called the locations Abbasija, Kfar Kila Mardsch Ajun, Adaissa, Markaba, Hula, Mais al-Jabal, Blida, Marun al-Ras, Jarun and Bint Dschubail.

The army cleared streets and, according to its own statements, eliminated mines and non -exploded explosive devices to prepare the return of the residents. After more than a year of absence, many returned under joy singing, as eyewitnesses reported. Many of the places were massively damaged. “We know that we may not find anything in our houses, but at least we are back in our country and will rebuild what we have lost,” said a resident of one of the border villages of a local television station.

After the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 cited by the Islamist Hamas, the Hisbollah had begun to shoot the north of Israel with rockets. The conflict escalated in September 2024 and developed into a bloody war between the Schiiten militia and the Jewish state. 4,047 people were killed in Lebanon, in Israel 76.