Israel has pulled troops from southern Lebanon, leaving five positions in Lebanon, the Lebanese state news agency said. Israel’s withdrawal is a key part of a ceasefire that concluded a year-long conflict with Shia militant group Hezbollah.
The Israeli minister said some troops will remain within Lebanon to protect Israel’s northern communities.
United Nations officials called it a “delay” in implementing a ceasefire “not what we wanted.” Lebanon also opposed it.
The ceasefire calls for Israel to withdraw and Lebanese troops to replace all armed groups south of the Ritani River, about 30km (20 miles) north of Israel.
Hezbollah has been the dominant force in the region for decades, but has hit the conflict hard.
Lebanese authorities say more than 3,960 people (many of which civilians) have been killed during hostilities, and one million other people have been evacuated from areas where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
Israeli authorities say more than 80 Israeli soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed. Approximately 60,000 citizens have evacuated from northern Israel.
Reports say most of the people who were displaced in Lebanon have returned home, according to the UN, and only a small number of people who were displaced in Israel.
The position where Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) units are deployed is in the mountainous region at the edge of the Lebanon-Israel border.
On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said the IDF “remained at five strategic high points at some point.” He added that this is “necessary for our security.”
“If Lebanon fully implements the trading aspects, there is no need to hold these points,” he told a press conference in Jerusalem.
In response to the announcement, Lebanon said Israel must withdraw altogether. It said, “We will consider the continued presence of Israel’s existence in every inch of Lebanon’s territory as occupation.”
And in a joint statement, the UN Lebanon special coordinator and the UN peacekeeping chief said the completion of the ceasefire contract was delayed.
However, since the ceasefire came into effect at the end of November, he said, “This… should not overshadow concrete progress.”
Meanwhile, Lebanese soldiers have moved to areas vacant by Israeli forces, starting to settle obstacles and check for non-profitable factions, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
BBC’s Carine Touby reports from the border town of Malone Al Rath, saying everything there was destroyed.
She says rows and rows of tiled rows are stacked on either side of the sturdy road where Israeli forces were bulldozers. The woman was digging with her bare hands, she says, looking for traces of her son.
“We’ve returned, but our loved ones haven’t returned,” the woman said.
Israel’s withdrawal, which had been postponed from the original 60-day deadline, which fell on January 26, was stipulated in a ceasefire.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “The IDF’s enforcement efforts against Hezbollah will continue in full force. A return to reality on October 7th (2023) will not be permitted. Hmm” – refer to the date. Gunners in Hamas, Palestinian, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza.
Hezbollah said the following day it launched a military campaign against Israel and was acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.
