Israeli forces stayed beyond the withdrawal deadline

Israeli troops remained in southern Lebanon beyond Sunday’s withdrawal deadline after a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah was not fully implemented.

60 day agreementwhich was held by the US and France and ended the 14-month conflict, imposed the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the removal of Hezbollah forces and weapons from the area.

At the same time, thousands of Lebanese soldiers will be sent to an area where, for decades, Hezbollah has been a dominant force.

It was not clear how many Israeli soldiers remained in Lebanon as of Sunday and how long they intended to stay.

As the deadline passes and some residents try to return to their homes, despite warnings from the Lebanese and Israeli forces, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said three people were killed and 44 wounded by Israeli forces. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

This is the first major test of Lebanon’s new president, military chief Joseph Aoun, who is determined to bring stability to the troubled country. In a statement issued on Sunday, he said “Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable”, adding that he is “following this issue at the highest levels”.

The conflict escalated last September, leading to a massive Israeli air campaign across Lebanon, the killing of top Hezbollah leaders and a ground attack in southern Lebanon. The attack killed around 4,000 people in Lebanon – including many civilians – and led to the displacement of more than 1.2 million citizens.

On Friday, the Israeli prime minister’s office said that the withdrawal expressed in the ceasefire “depends on the fact that the Lebanese army is deployed in southern Lebanon and fully enforces the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws across the Litani”, a river of 30 kilometers (20). miles) from the Blue Line – the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel.

“Since the ceasefire agreement has not been fully ratified by the country of Lebanon, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full cooperation with the US,” the statement said.

In a statement on Saturday, the Lebanese army said it continued to “implement the plan to improve the deployment of troops” in the border areas, but there were delays in some stages due to the delay of the Israeli enemy’s withdrawal, making the deployment of troops difficult. mission”.

A Western official with knowledge of the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel said it needed more time to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon, and that the original plan was to extend the 30 days.

There was no immediate reaction from Hezbollah. On Thursday, the group said failure to follow the deadline would be “a clear violation of the agreement, a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and entering a new phase of occupation”.

However, this statement did not say how the group will react if Israeli soldiers stay in the country.

This may be an indication of the critical situation the group finds itself in. The Iranian-backed military, political and social movement has been weakened significantly in the conflict with Israel, although it continues to enjoy significant support among Shia Muslims in Lebanon.

The ceasefire was seen as a concession by the group, after seeing its infrastructure and weapons depleted and hundreds of fighters and key figures killed, including long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Despite some violations, the agreement ended the violence that caused billions of dollars in destruction and damage, allowing thousands of civilians to return to their homes in Lebanon.

If it decides to continue its offensive, Hezbollah will face opposition from critics, who have accused the group of dragging Lebanon into a war that was not intended for the country, and possibly from some of its supporters.

Hezbollah’s political influence has waned, too.

Earlier this month, the Lebanese parliament was able to elect a president after more than two years of political turmoil critics in the group accused.

Aoun has promised sweeping reforms to rebuild state institutions that have long been plagued by corruption, revive an economy that collapsed after years of chaos, and the right to rule and own weapons, which would mean trying to curb Hezbollah’s military power.

It remains unclear whether the military is able – and willing – to do so, as there are concerns that any action against the group could spark internal violence.

Israel’s goal in its war with Hezbollah was to allow the return of approximately 60,000 civilians who were displaced from communities in the north of the country due to the group’s attacks, and to remove them from the border areas.

Hezbollah launched its campaign the day after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, saying it was acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.