Israel has withdrawn its troops from towns and villages in southern Lebanon, as reported by the United Nations, but has retained control of strategic positions along the border. This move comes as the deadline for both Israel and Hezbollah to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon has passed.
The ongoing Israeli military presence in Lebanese territory poses a threat to the fragile truce with Hezbollah and raises concerns in Lebanon about a potential prolonged occupation.
A cease-fire established in November concluded the deadliest conflict between the two parties in decades. Following this, both Israel and Hezbollah were expected to relinquish control of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese military by the end of January, a deadline that was subsequently extended to Tuesday.
On Monday, Israel announced that its forces would temporarily remain in five strategic locations just across the border until the Lebanese military fully executed its responsibilities under the agreement, according to an Israeli military spokesperson. The duration of this temporary presence remains unspecified.
Under the cease-fire terms, Hezbollah is also required to withdraw from southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese military to take over. Israeli officials have accused both Hezbollah and the Lebanese army of failing to meet their obligations, while the Lebanese military has stated it can only fully deploy once Israeli forces have withdrawn.
A U.S.-led monitoring committee has commended the Lebanese military's deployment but has not provided details regarding the extent of Hezbollah's withdrawal of weapons and fighters.
For months, thousands of displaced Lebanese have been unable to return to areas previously controlled by Israel due to repeated warnings from the Israeli military to stay away.
The United Nations confirmed on Tuesday that Israel had withdrawn from population centers in southern Lebanon; however, it noted that the continued Israeli presence violates a U.N. resolution that concluded the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war and laid the groundwork for the recent cease-fire. This resolution mandated Hezbollah's withdrawal from the south as well.
The U.N. Lebanon envoy and the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon expressed disappointment over the delay in full withdrawal.
Despite the ongoing Israeli presence, displaced residents returned to the south on Tuesday, some finding their communities nearly unrecognizable. At least two individuals were reported injured by Israeli gunfire, according to Lebanon’s state-run news agency.
One resident, Yara Awada, described the destruction of her family home, which had been built over a century ago. She expressed both sorrow and hope for the future, stating, “It hurts our heart to see our village like this. But we still have hope and we are going to rebuild our village better than it was.”
Last month, Israeli forces reportedly killed over two dozen people as they attempted to enter southern border towns, with the Israeli military claiming it had fired warning shots to eliminate perceived threats.
Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, opposed Israel's intention to maintain a presence in southern Lebanon but refrained from threatening renewed attacks. He emphasized that Israel must withdraw completely by February 18, as per the agreement.
Despite their objections, Hezbollah and the Lebanese government lack the means to compel Israel to withdraw. Lebanese leaders have sought support from Arab neighbors and the United States to pressure Israel, though experts suggest that Hezbollah, weakened by extensive conflict, is unlikely to provoke further hostilities in the immediate future.
However, should Israel remain indefinitely in Lebanon, it could inadvertently strengthen Hezbollah's position, as noted by regional experts.
Lebanon’s newly elected president, Joseph Aoun, has committed to consolidating arms under state control, which poses a challenge to Hezbollah's longstanding influence. Nonetheless, the feasibility of this goal remains uncertain.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese military advised civilians to avoid approaching southern towns until military deployment was complete. The military has accused Israel of employing a scorched-earth strategy in recent weeks, including the destruction and burning of homes during its withdrawal. The Israeli military has asserted that such destruction was necessary for military operations, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.