Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Why is Israel still in southern Lebanon? , Israel attacks Lebanon News

On the day Israeli forces were due to withdraw under a ceasefire deal, Lebanese health officials reported that Israeli forces had killed at least 15 people in the south.

At least 83 people were also injured as Israeli forces opened fire as people tried to return to their homes, Lebanon’s Public Health said in a statement on Sunday.

The killings mark another violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and mark the latest in a series of attacks that have occurred since the conflict began in November.

The ceasefire reduced the number of daily attacks on the south of Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut. However, Israeli forces remain in south Lebanon to carry out demolitions in border villages.

Here’s a look at the situation in southern Lebanon on the last day of the ceasefire.

What are the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire?

Under the terms of the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire, Hezbollah agreed to pull back above the Litni River, which runs through south Lebanon, and Israel was to pull all troops out of Lebanese territory over a 60-day period.

Once Israeli forces were out, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was to enter, followed by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

Furthermore, the LAF is believed to ensure that they are the only Lebanese armed presence in South Lebanon.

However, Israeli troops were still in the south on Sunday, with both sides blaming each other for why the terms of the ceasefire were not followed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in recent days that Israel would hold on to some points in the southeast of Lebanon.

When did the ceasefire end?

Israeli forces were required to withdraw from Lebanon as the ceasefire expired at 02:00 GMT on Sunday.

Why is Israel refusing to withdraw from southern Lebanon?

A UN source told Al Jazeera on Friday that, while Israeli forces had withdrawn from large parts of the western and central areas of southern Lebanon, field data suggested they were preparing to retain points in the east .

Netanyahu blamed Lebanon for the delay, saying Hezbollah had not sufficiently pulled back from the border area. Lebanon denied the claim and urged Israel to respect the deadline.

Israel also justified this by saying that the LAF was not quick enough to deploy in the entirety of the south. The LAF denied those claims, saying they were fully prepared to deploy.

UNIFIL, which has previously reported Israeli violations, has called on both sides to abide by the terms of the ceasefire.

The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday that Israel was asking the new administration of US President Donald Trump to extend the deadline, claiming that the Lebanese Army has deployed too slowly in the south and that Hezbollah has been forced to retake the border. Permission has been given to organize from.

How many times has Israel violated the ceasefire agreement since November 27?

According to investigations by media organizations and think tanks, Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement hundreds of times.

Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency monitored the region and observed that Israel did not withdraw troops during this period, but used the truce to reinforce military positions seized during previous combat operations.

SANAD verified more than 30 videos and documented images of ground incursions and aerial attacks by Israel inside Lebanon during the ceasefire.

According to Anadolu Agency, there have been at least 660 incidents, while the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy, a pro-Israel D.C. think tank, said Israel has committed at least 800 airspace violations since November 27.

The Israeli army also entered new areas it had been unable to enter before the ceasefire agreement and demolished many civilian homes. Sanad found that 4.5 square km (1.74 sq mi) of land, mainly along frontline villages, were subject to demolition and bulldozing by Israeli forces.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 90 people in Lebanon were killed by Israeli forces between the end of the ceasefire and in early December.

What has the Lebanese government said?

The country’s leaders have called on Israel to respect the terms of the agreement and for civilians to trust the Lebanese army.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is himself from southern Lebanon, sent a message to residents of the region, urging them to trust the army and remain calm.

“Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, and I am pursuing this issue at the highest level to ensure our rights and dignity are respected,” he said in a statement.

These sentiments were echoed by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who said he had full confidence in the LAF to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and return residents to the south. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also from southern Lebanon, called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah has not made a public statement, but an MP affiliated with the group, Hassan Fadallah, appeared on local television station Al-Zade to praise the men pushing into their southern villages. Hezbollah has not yet responded militarily.

With the fall of the al-Assad regime cutting off its supply lines into Syria, “Hezbollah’s military capabilities and regional influence have been diminished, making it more vulnerable to Israeli demands,” said a political scientist at the Lebanese American Imad Salmi University in Beirut, said.

What has the international response been?

On January 25, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, and stressed the need for Israel to adhere to the withdrawal terms of the ceasefire agreement.

The UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Paschert, and UNIFIL’s head of mission, Aroldo Lazaro, issued a joint statement saying that “the timelines envisaged in the November understanding have not been met” and that displaced communities “Exercise caution” was urged.

During a visit a week ago, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need for Israeli forces to withdraw.

Are Lebanese citizens allowed to return to the area?

Thousands of Lebanese have returned to their homes in the south since 27 November. Within hours of the ceasefire coming into effect, tens of thousands of people headed south and visited their lands and homes.

However, an Israeli military spokesman declared several villages in southern Lebanon a no-go zone. He warned against the return of key villages such as Sheb, al-Habrieh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Kantara, Chakara, Brachit, Yatar, and al-Mansouri, as they were declared “restricted areas”.

On Saturday, a day before the ceasefire was concluded, messages were circulated among southerners that called for groups of people to gather near the villages on Sunday morning and march towards them.

A member of the Lebanese Civil Defense Forces deployed near the southern city of Meis al-Jabal told Al Jazeera early on Sunday that Israeli tanks were still blocking the road and people were not being allowed through.

Israel, which claimed that Hezbollah was behind the grouping of residents, opened fire on the men advancing towards their villages, although some villagers were able to push into their towns and were pursued by the LAF.

What will happen next?

The Lebanese Army has created checkpoints at several points near the southern villages to try and manage the situation. The army also entered some villages, as did some villagers.

Videos on social media circulated of residents standing face-to-face with Israeli tanks or soldiers in some areas, while in others, they were filmed as gunfire was heard in the background.

Some villagers have been seen waving Hezbollah, or their ally Amal, flags and others bearing images of the late Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

For Israel, Salmi, the political scientist, says its decision does not give up, representing its long-term strategy to reopen Lebanon’s political and military landscape so as to “neutralize any subsequent threat from Syria.” Go.

“It reflects a broader vision of ensuring Israel’s security and influence in the region while preventing Hezbollah from regaining its former strength,” he said.