Lebanon demands full Israeli withdrawal as residents return home

The Lebanese leadership has reiterated its demand for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon, after Israel refused to leave some positions along the border despite a Tuesday deadline.

The statement issued by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who is allied with Islamist militant group Hezbollah, followed a meeting between the three.

Lebanon considers Israel’s continued presence on Lebanese soil to be an occupation and, under a ceasefire agreement struck last year, all Israeli forces must withdraw from the neighbouring country by Tuesday.

After the terrorist attack on southern Israel led by Gaza-based Islamist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah began firing rockets at northern Israel.

The conflict escalated in September 2024 and developed into a bloody war between the Shiite militia and the Jewish state, which claimed 4,047 lives in Lebanon and 76 in Israel.

Now scores of people have started returning to villages which Israeli troops have left in southern Lebanon.

“We know we are returning to rubble but at least we have our land back,” one woman said as she entered her village in Kfar Chouba.

Women were seen throwing rice and rose petals on Lebanese troops, who were deploying to the areas where Israeli troops withdrew.

The Lebanese military listed the towns of Abbasija, Kfar Kila Marj Ajun, Adaissa, Markaba, Hula, Mais al-Jabal, Blida, Marun al-Ras, Jarun and Bint Jubail as now being back under its control.

The army cleared roads and said it was removing mines and unexploded ordnance to prepare for the return of residents.

Many returned after more than a year of absence, singing songs of joy, eyewitnesses reported.

But Israel said on Monday it would temporarily maintain “a small number of troops at five strategic points along the border.”

The United Nations has criticized the delay in the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers.

In a joint statement, the UN observer mission UNIFIL and UN special coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said that “another delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen.”

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel was determined to ensure the safety of its residents in northern Israel. To this end, he said, many more posts would be established on the border and reinforced with troops.

Israel has also accused the Lebanese army of not moving quickly enough to deploy troops to ensure security in the south.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem had already threatened the Israelis in a televised address before the deadline, saying:” If their troops remain in Lebanon beyond February 18, it will be an occupation – and everyone knows how to deal with an occupation.”