Israel withdraws from most of southern Lebanon, keeps soldiers at 5 outposts

Israel on Tuesday withdrew from most of southern Lebanon but kept soldiers at five outposts near the border.

As per the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah negotiated by the United States and France , Israel was required to vacate southern Lebanon and move behind the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon, by Tuesday. Hezbollah was also required to vacate southern Lebanon and move north of the Litani river. The Lebanese military was required to move into the vacated area to enforce the ceasefire.

However, the continued presence of Israeli soldiers at five locations where it has built outposts is an irritant and has been slammed by the Labanese government as occupation of the country’s territory. The stated purpose of outposts is to ensure that Hezbollah does not pose a threat to Israel once the region is vacated by Israel.

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Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that the military “will stay in a buffer zone in Lebanon in five control posts” to guard against any aggression from Hezbollah, according to the Associated Press.

Katz furthersaid, “We are determined to provide full security to every northern community.”

While Katz did not give any timeline for the soldiers’ deployment at these five outposts, The Jerusalem Post reported sources as saying that soldiers could stay there for a period of two to eight months but the stay could be extended if needed.

Even though these outposts were not part of the original ceasefire deal negotiated by the United States and France, The Post has indicated that Israel has convinced the United States with the plan for continued deployment inside Lebanon.

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Writing in the newspaper, Yonah Jeremy Bob noted, “The five outposts were not formally part of the November 27 ceasefire deal signed between Israel and Hezbollah-Lebanon. However, Israel has convinced the US that the Lebanese army is not effective enough as of now to protect the Israeli border from Hezbollah deepening its presence in southern Lebanon and then potentially trying to attack.”

Lebanon slams Israeli outposts

In a joint statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker Nabih Berri skammed the Israeli presence inside their country as a violation of the ceasefire deal. They called upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to act against Israel.

“The continued Israeli presence in any inch of Lebanese territory is an occupation, with all the legal consequences that result from that according to international legitimacy,” read thte statement.

Separately, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem indicated that fighting may resume with continued Israeli presence inside Lebanon.

“Israel must withdraw completely on Feb. 18. This is the agreement. Everyone knows how an occupation is dealt with,” said Qassem.