Am Dienstag endete die verlängerte Frist für den Rückzug der israelischen Truppen aus dem Libanon, wie es das Waffenstillstandsabkommen vorsah. Laut Medienberichten hat Israel einen Großteil seiner Soldaten abgezogen, jedoch plant die Israelische Verteidigungsstreitmacht (IDF), entgegen der ursprünglichen Zusage, fünf Militärposten entlang der Grenze zu behalten.
Israeli sources reported to maintain control over five locations: Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill. A Lebanese security official confirmed to AFP that Israeli forces had withdrawn from all border villages but continued to occupy these five locations. On Tuesday morning, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) moved into several towns and villages from which Israeli forces had withdrawn.
Israel justified the continued presence at these five sites by claiming that the Lebanese army did not move in quickly enough and hence did not fulfill their obligations under the agreement. According to the agreement, going forward, only the Lebanese army and UN Peacekeeping Forces (UNIFIL) are to remain in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is required to withdraw its forces northward beyond the Litani River—approximately 30 kilometers north of the border—and to dismantle its military bases.
Until the withdrawal commencement on Monday evening, Israeli occupying forces conducted extensive detonations and destruction of infrastructure. On Tuesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. During the meeting, they reaffirmed “the unified national stance of the Lebanese state and emphasized the necessity of a complete Israeli withdrawal”, according to a presidential spokesperson.
More on this topic – Troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon: Israel to remain at several military sites