CNN
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The Lebanese government says three people were killed by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and 44 people were injured by Israeli forces as residents of villages near the border ignored Israeli orders not to return to their homes. said.
The deaths came as a deadline expired on Sunday for Israel to withdraw its forces from the region as part of a cease-fire agreement that ended months of conflict with Hezbollah.
Under a November ceasefire agreement, Israeli and Hezbollah forces agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26.
However, the Israeli government said on Friday that the military would not withdraw all its troops from southern Lebanon by Sunday’s deadline, accusing Lebanon of not upholding its end of the deal. The Lebanese army accused Israel of “procrastinating.”
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said Israeli forces launched an attack on Lebanese civilians on Sunday, attempting to enter towns still occupied by Israeli forces.
A video verified by CNN showed residents on foot in Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon trying to return to their villages. Some were seen holding Hezbollah flags, while others carried images of militant fighters killed in the war.
It comes after Israel’s military issued fresh orders on Sunday to residents of dozens of south Lebanon villages not to return to their homes.
“Urgent!! Abishei Adly, Arabic spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), writes about X.
The post included a map of southern Lebanon with areas along the border in Israeli shades of red, and a list of residents of more than 60 villages who were banned from accessing it.
“At this stage you are prohibited from returning to your home from this line south of this line until further notice as the Defense Forces do not intend to target you. Anyone who moves south of this line is at risk. You get exposed,” Adley said.
CNN has contacted the Israeli military for comment.
Lebanese President Joseph Ooun said in a statement that he was “monitoring this matter at the highest level.”
“Lebanon’s sovereignty and its territorial unity are not subject to compromise,” he said, pledging residents of the south to “ensure your rights and dignity.”
