The Israeli army has announced that it will leave soldiers in five locations in southern Lebanon past a deadline to withdraw from the country.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to the ceasefire to bring an end to months of all-out war, during which Israel launched ground operations against Lebanon and assassinated a wave of top Hezbollah figures, including Chief Hassan Nasrallah.
Under the deal, the Israeli army was to withdraw from southern Lebanon over a 60-day period while Lebanon’s military deployed in the Hezbollah heartland alongside United Nations peacekeepers.
The 60-day deadline, which fell in late January, was later extended to Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, was to pull back north of the Litani River, about 30km (20 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border, and dismantle any of its remaining military infrastructure in the south.
However, last week, Israel accused the Lebanese armed group of failing to abide by the deal and said it did not plan to fully withdraw in the short term.
Announcing the decision, Israeli military Spokesperson, Nadav Shoshani told reporters on Monday, February 17, 2025, that the five locations in Lebanon provide vantage points or are located across from communities in northern Israel.
“We need to remain at those points at the moment to defend Israeli citizens, to make sure this process is complete and eventually hand it over to the Lebanese armed forces.”
Nadav Shoshani
He said that the “temporary measure” was approved by the United States-led body monitoring the ceasefire, which came into effect in late November.
Speaker of Lebanon’s Parliament, Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, said that he had received word from Washington that Israel would remain in those five locations, a plan Lebanon rejected.
It is assumed that the positions Israel intends to maintain will offer military control across southern Lebanon.
Karim Bitar, lecturer in Middle East studies at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), opined that it appears that there is a “tacit if not an explicit US agreement to extend the withdrawal period.”
The Israeli army announcement came after Lebanon had raised concerns that a complete withdrawal would not be achieved.
Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun had expressed concern earlier on Monday, February 17, 2025, that Israel would not move all of its forces out of the country by Tuesday’s agreed deadline.
Aoun said in a statement, “We are afraid that a complete withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow.”
The Lebanese President added that the Lebanese response will be through a “unified, comprehensive national position.”
Lebanon’s concerns over the Israeli army’s plans illustrate the fragility of the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Reports Of Attacks Across Lebanon
Lebanon’s concerns also come after several reports of attacks across Lebanon, a common tactic of the Israeli military on the eve of a cessation of hostilities.
A drone struck a car in the port city of Sidon, the deepest of Israel’s many attacks in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect on November 27.
The strike near a Lebanese army checkpoint killed a Hamas official who headed the group’s operations department in Lebanon, the Israeli military said.
An Israeli drone also dropped a grenade on the main square of the southern town of Kfarchouba, and soldiers set fire to houses in the border town of Odaisseh, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Ramzi Kaiss from Human Rights Watch said that “Israel’s deliberate demolition of civilian homes and infrastructure” was making it “impossible for many residents to return” home.
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