The Israeli government has announced that its military will not withdraw from Lebanon by Sunday’s deadline, in violation of a ceasefire agreement that ended months of conflict with Hezbollah.
Israel was expected to withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon as part of the deal but the Israeli government said some its forces would remain in southern Lebanon, blaming Lebanon for failing to uphold its end of the agreement.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, “The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] withdrawal is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon.”
“Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by Lebanon, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States.”
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office
Under the November ceasefire agreement, both Israeli and Hezbollah forces agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, the end of a 60-day period stipulated in the deal.
Under the terms of the truce, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River, about 30km (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
Hezbollah warned on Thursday that if the Israeli military remained in Lebanon past Sunday, it would be “considered a brazen breach of the agreement.”
The statement on Friday came after the Israeli army attacked towns in the border region of southern Lebanon just two days before it is supposed to withdraw troops under the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday that Israel was asking US President Donald Trump’s new administration to extend the deadline, claiming the Lebanese army has deployed too slowly to the south and allowed Hezbollah to regroup.
National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, the former Defence Minister who quit the country’s war cabinet last year, was quoted in the report as saying the military should continue to “intensify operations against any violation by Hezbollah – minor or serious.”
The Israeli withdrawal delay comes as Lebanese residents returned to their villages in the south only to find them devastated.
The Lebanese military asked residents of the coastal town of Naqoura not to return home for their own safety, given the trail of destruction left by departing Israeli forces.
Israel’s Delay Risks Undermining Ceasefire Agreement
David Wood, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Lebanon, told a news agency that Israel’s delay risks undermining the ceasefire agreement and said the Lebanese army does not have many options, especially while Israeli troops remain within its borders.
“But also I think there’s a symbolic aspect to this.
“For as long as Israel remains inside Lebanese territory, it can potentially reinforce Hezbollah’s narrative that the Lebanese state alone, through the army, cannot resist Israeli occupation and therefore needs assistance from the continuation of Hezbollah’s military wing and its armed resistance.”
David Wood
Wood stated that Israel’s failure to withdraw from Lebanon as part of the agreed ceasefire deal may end up benefiting Hezbollah.
“Resistance to an Israeli ground occupation is Hezbollah’s bread and butter.
“Most of Hezbollah’s appeal is based on previous experiences in which it claims having successfully fought back against the Israeli occupation.”
David Wood
As per the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese state should control the country and allow no more non-state armed actors. “How can [the Lebanese army] be expected to do that as long as Israeli troops remain within Lebanese borders?” Wood asked.
That mission would also be undermined by Hezbollah rebuilding its narrative that diplomacy is not enough and that force is required.
According to the Beirut-based analyst, Israel’s presence would also thwart the process of rebuilding homes in southern Lebanon amid fears of renewed hostilities.
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