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On Tuesday, 18 February, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) began withdrawing from Lebanon in accordance with the ceasefire agreement that came into force on 27 November 2024. At the same time, the Israeli military will remain in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon.
The IDF explained that this is a temporary measure until the Lebanese army is able to fully comply with the terms of the agreement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that the retention of these positions is temporary. He stated that Israel will remain on five strategically important heights necessary for the country’s security until Lebanon fulfils its part of the agreement.
According to the agreement, which entered into force on 27 November 2024, Hezbollah must withdraw its fighters and weapons from the territories south of the Litani River. Israel, in turn, is to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon as the Lebanese Armed Forces deploy there.
The withdrawal was supposed to be completed by 26 January, but the process was delayed because Lebanon did not fulfil all the terms of the agreement.
According to The Jerusalem Post, there will be almost three times as many troops on the Israeli-Lebanese border as before the war began on 8 October 2023. The total number of IDF forces in the area will be up to 15,000 soldiers.
Israel says that its troops remain in Lebanon because of fears that the Lebanese army is not yet able to prevent Hezbollah’s return to the south of the country. Tel Aviv insists that the military will remain there until there are security guarantees for Israel’s northern territories.
The Lebanese army confirmed the deployment of its forces in 11 villages from which the Israeli military had withdrawn. The actions of the Lebanese armed forces are coordinated with the agreement’s supervisory committee and the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
