Israel Withdraws from Southern Lebanon, Retains Presence in Five Key Border Positions

Watan-The Lebanese news agency reported on Tuesday morning that the Israeli army has withdrawn from the villages and towns it was occupying in the south of the country, except for five key positions along the border.

Meanwhile, Israel’s official public broadcaster stated that the Israeli army’s continued presence in these five positions inside Lebanese territory is “in coordination with the United States.”

The Lebanese news agency reported that “Israeli forces withdrew at dawn from the villages and towns they were occupying in the south, namely Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Blida, Meiss El-Jabal, Houla, Markaba, Adaisseh, Kfar Kila, and Al-Wazzani.”

It added that the Lebanese army began deploying in the villages of Blida, Meiss El-Jabal, and Markaba following the Israeli forces’ withdrawal from these locations.

In contrast, the agency reported that Israel maintained its presence in “five key positions along the border,” under the pretext that these positions face major Israeli settlement clusters.

It clarified that these positions include “Al-Labouneh Hills” in the outskirts of Naqoura, which face prominent settlements in western Galilee, from Rosh Hanikra to Shlomi and Nahariya.

Israel has also kept its forces stationed at “Jabal Balat” between Marwahin and Ramyah, which faces the settlements of Shetula and Zar’it, in addition to “Jal al-Deir and Jabal al-Bat” in the outskirts of Aitaroun, opposite the settlements of Avivim, Yiftah, and Malikiya.

In the eastern sector, the “Dawair” position on the Markaba-Houla road faces Wadi Hunin and the Margaliot settlement, while the “Talat al-Hamamiss” position faces the Metula settlement.

Lebanese Army Deployment

On Tuesday, the Lebanese army confirmed its deployment in border areas south of the Litani River following the Israeli forces’ withdrawal as the ceasefire implementation deadline between Hezbollah and Israel expired.

In a statement, the army said that military units had been deployed in about ten villages, including Kfar Kila, Adaisseh, Markaba, Houla, and Meiss El-Jabal, as well as “other border locations in the South Litani area, in coordination with the Five-Nation Committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy.”

Coordination with the United States

In this context, Israel’s public broadcaster stated on Tuesday that “as part of coordination with the United States, Israel has received approval to maintain a limited military presence in five strategic locations inside Lebanon.”

Tel Aviv claimed that its continued presence in these locations is necessary to “protect” its northern border.

The broadcaster added: “After two and a half months of military operations, the Israeli army began completing its withdrawal from southern Lebanon on Tuesday.”

It continued: “The destroyed area will be handed over to the Lebanese army, which is supposed to enforce the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, issued in 2006, requiring Hezbollah’s removal from south of the Litani River.”

The broadcaster noted that “since last night and this morning, forces have been deployed along the border at outposts established opposite each town (settlement) within the northern border communities of Israel.”

Citing unnamed Israeli military sources, the broadcaster said that the challenge now is to “maintain achievements and prevent Hezbollah from returning south of the Litani.”

On Monday evening, Israeli army radio reported that “the army has deployed its forces in the five positions where it will remain in southern Lebanon for the foreseeable future.”

The army was quoted as saying: “We are preparing for a prolonged presence there until Hezbollah withdraws north of the Litani.”

According to Israeli army radio on Monday, the number of troops remaining on the border with Lebanon will be about three times higher than before the war.