Residents of Lebanon’s southern border towns and villages have vowed to return to their homes once the 60-day ceasefire deadline expires, whether or not Israeli forces withdraw.
Several residents have informed Lebanese army intelligence of their plans to re-enter their towns on Sunday, when the deadline for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement reached in November, comes into effect.
According to the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, residents of the border areas have urged people to prepare for their return and arranged transportation to facilitate it.
The Lebanese army has repeatedly urged citizens returning to border villages and towns to comply with orders from its military units and not to approach areas where Israeli forces were present.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that the head of the ceasefire committee, US Major General Jasper Jeffers, had told him that “the Israeli withdrawal might be delayed for several days”.
Asked about the concerns that Israel might impose a buffer zone inside Lebanon, Mikati stressed that there would be no such zone.
“After the completion of the withdrawal, a tripartite committee will be formed by the five-member (ceasefire monitoring) committee to delineate the Blue Line in a manner that conforms to the 1949 Truce line,” Mikati said.
Israeli media reports this week also suggested that Israel would not adhere to the 60-day withdrawal deadline and may maintain control of strategic positions within Lebanese territory.
During a recent meeting in Naqoura, Israeli representatives reportedly refused to provide a clear timeline for their planned withdrawals in the remaining week of the agreed two-month period.
“All participants understood that the Israelis were attempting to extend the deadline – even if by only a few days,” a source told Al-Akhbar, adding that the proposed extension was around three days. The committee is expected to reconvene later this week.
Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun announced on Tuesday that he had “conducted multiple diplomatic efforts to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the occupied Lebanese territories” and had received “positive responses” from the international community.
Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to ensuring Israel’s full withdrawal from all remaining Lebanese territories by the agreed deadline.
Meanwhile, late on Tuesday, a senior Hezbollah official was killed in the Western Bekaa region.
Sheikh Muhammad Hammadi was “assassinated” outside his home in the town of Mashgara by “unknown” gunmen travelling in two civilian cars, state news agency NNA reported.
Hamadi was rushed to a hospital in the region where he succumbed to his wounds, the agency reported.
Hezbollah released a statement announcing his death and calling on people to participate in his funeral on Wednesday.
In a separate development in Bekaa region, the Lebanese army’s intelligence unit arrested an individual, identified as A.H., who was suspected of collaborating with Israel.
The suspect was detained in his home in Dakoue, West Bekaa, and was reportedly spying for Israel. His brother, K.H., was previously arrested for collaborating with Israel, according to Lebanese media reports.
The arrest came just a few days after that of another Lebanese, identified as H.A., was arrested on 17 January for collaborating with Israel.
Despite truce, Israeli forces intensify attacks
Israeli forces have also intensified attacks on border villages, carrying out large-scale demolitions in Wadi Al-Slouqi, Maroun Al-Ras, Al-Dhahira, and the outskirts of Houla.
Israeli forces raided abandoned homes in Bint Jbeil while the Lebanese army deployed reinforcements in preparation for positioning at key entrances to the key town, leading to Aitaroun, Maroun Al-Ras, and Yaroun.
These developments were marked by heightened Israeli drone activity, as the military-installed additional surveillance cameras and intelligence-gathering devices along the border.
During the 60-day first phase of the ceasefire deal, based on Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah and Israeli forces are to withdraw from south Lebanon, and the Lebanese military is to step in.
The Lebanese troops are to ensure that Hezbollah dismantles its facilities and military positions and that it doesn’t try to rebuild.
Despite the 60-day truce, the Israeli military expanded into numerous new positions across southern Lebanon within the first 40 days of the agreement.
On 24 December, Lebanon complained to the United Nations that there were more than 800 Israeli violations in the first few weeks of the truce.
In the process, Israeli forces damaged or demolished hundreds of buildings while allegedly that they were conducting searches for weapons and infrastructure.
The Washington Post reported that between 5 December and 6 January, more than 800 buildings were damaged or destroyed in southern Lebanon, according to satellite images the outlet obtained.
Israeli forces also conducted more than 400 air, missile, shelling or artillery strikes across Lebanon between 27 November and 6 January, according to the conflict monitoring group ACLED.
