Israel misses deadline for withdrawing troops from Lebanon
The prime minister’s office mentioned that the Lebanese Army had not yet fully secured south Lebanon.
According to the prime minister’s office on Jan. 24, due to the incomplete deployment of the Lebanese army in the area, Israel would postpone withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day limit set by the cease-fire deal with the Hezbollah group. The Lebanese army needed to fully deploy in southern Lebanon and effectively enforce the agreement, which required Hezbollah to move beyond the Litani River.
The cease-fire deal, effective from Nov. 27, gave Israel 60 days, ending on Jan. 26, to remove its forces from south Lebanon. The withdrawal was conditional on the full enforcement of the cease-fire by the Lebanese state, which was yet to be achieved. Therefore, the withdrawal process would continue gradually in consultation with the United States.
Hezbollah expressed dissatisfaction with any delay in withdrawal, calling it a breach of the agreement. They urged the Lebanese state to take action against such violations using international means. The deal had temporarily stopped the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which rose tensions since Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Alma Research and Education Center highlighted Israel’s goal of dismantling Hezbollah’s weapon stores in south Lebanon, an area where the IDF had not yet maneuvered. Despite ongoing cease-fire violations, Israel’s policy towards Hezbollah in the denied area south of the Litani River remains uncompromising.
With uncertainty surrounding the actions of the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, both forces were expected to fulfill the requirements of the previous U.N. Resolution 1701 from 2006. Newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated the state’s right to monopolize weapons in his inauguration speech on Jan. 9. Hezbollah’s rebuilding stage following significant losses makes it a potential security threat that Israel plans to counter effectively.
Noting the potential dangers posed by Hezbollah, analysts recommend a cautious approach towards the cease-fire, emphasizing the need to neutralize Hezbollah’s military capabilities completely to ensure long-term peace and security.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
