Israel to Maintain Presence in Five Strategic Locations in Southern Lebanon After Tuesday Withdrawal

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Monday that troops will stay in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon beyond Tuesday’s withdrawal deadline under a ceasefire with Hezbollah, despite Lebanon’s government expressing frustration over the delay.

Under a ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States in November, Israeli forces were initially given 60 days to withdraw from Southern Lebanon, with the deadline extended from January 26 to February 18. Although the scheduled withdrawal is set for Tuesday, the U.S. has permitted the IDF to stay in five strategic locations until Hezbollah fully retreats beyond the Litani River. The duration of the IDF’s stay at these locations remains unclear.

Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that the five locations in Lebanon, chosen for their vantage points or proximity to northern Israeli communities where about 60,000 Israelis remain displaced, are part of a “temporary measure” sanctioned by the U.S.-led body overseeing the ceasefire.

The IDF also announced that it has enhanced security along its northern border by bolstering its defensive infrastructure on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border. This includes installing more cameras, radars, and sensors and tripling the number of troops compared to the levels before the conflict began in October 2023.

Shoshani told reporters, “Israel is committed to a withdrawal in ‘the right way, in a gradual way, and in a way that the security of our civilians is kept.'”

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized his diplomatic efforts to ensure the IDF withdrawal, stating, “I will not accept that a single Israeli remains on Lebanese territory.”

Although the IDF has expressed hope for more proactive measures from the Lebanese Armed Forces against Hezbollah, noting that their actions have been slower than anticipated, the IDF stated there has been a recent improvement in the Lebanese army’s efforts against the terrorist organization.

Recently, the IDF has intensified actions to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapon caches and terrorist infrastructure ahead of Tuesday’s planned withdrawal.

On Monday, an Israeli drone struck a car in Sidon, Lebanon’s southern port city, marking the deepest incursion since the ceasefire began. Israel stated the attack targeted Muhammad Shaheen, the head of Hamas’ operations in Lebanon.

If the ceasefire remains intact following the IDF’s withdrawal, tens of thousands of displaced residents from northern Israel are preparing to return to their homes on March 2.

Latest Worthy News