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SvennoJ on 17 February 2025
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Lebanese president says ‘afraid’ Israel may not fully withdraw by deadline

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has voiced concern that Israeli forces may not fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by a truce deadline on Tuesday, saying the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons was a matter for the Lebanese.

“We are afraid that a complete withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow,” Aoun said, according to a statement from the presidency. He added: “The important thing is to achieve the Israeli withdrawal, and Hezbollah’s weapons come as part of solutions the Lebanese agree on.”

His remarks came shortly after the Lebanese Health Ministry announced that one person had been killed in an Israeli strike in the southern city of Sidon.

Since November, Israeli forces have continued to violate terms of the agreement by sporadically bombing areas in Lebanon, claiming that it is targeting Hezbollah for violations of the ceasefire – something that the Lebanese group denies.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data collection group, has recorded 330 air strike and shelling incidents carried out by Israel between November 27 and January 10, as well as 260 property destruction events during this period.

It remains unclear whether Israel intends on withdrawing its troops from the south, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressing concern earlier today over the matter. Thousands of displaced people have still not been able to return to their homes in border villages as Israeli troops continue to open fire at people who attempt to return.

So far, at least 27 people have been killed since the truce came into effect. At least 20 were killed in various parts of the south when protesters marched into towns and villages demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces last month.


Israel to keep soldiers in five strategic points inside Lebanon: Reports

An Israeli official has confirmed to the Associated Press that the Israeli military will continue to occupy five strategic points on Lebanese soil even after forces withdraw as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Another unnamed Israeli political official quoted by Israeli media also confirmed the news, adding that “Israel will continue to vigorously enforce the ceasefire in Lebanon”.

The source said the assassination earlier today of a Hamas official in Lebanon was a demonstration of that intent. No details are as yet confirmed about where the sites inside Lebanon will be located.

Jerusalem Post reported that the presence of Israeli forces along the border line with Lebanon will be three times larger than it was before the war.

Qatar expresses ‘deep concern’ over Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire after the Israeli military launched a drone strike in Lebanon’s Sidon.



Lebanon extends suspension of Iran flights, Lebanese presidency says

Lebanon has extended the suspension of flights to and from Iran, the Lebanese presidency says after a cabinet meeting, without clarifying the extension period.

Lebanon halted an Iranian flight to Beirut last week after the Israeli military accused Tehran of using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Iran said, in turn, it would not allow Lebanese flights to land until its flights were cleared to land in Beirut.


Israel says troops to stay in Lebanon ‘to defend our residents’

Earlier we reported Israel is poised to again miss a truce deadline for withdrawing its troops from Lebanon after the military said it would remain at five “strategic points” despite pushback from Beirut.

“Based on the current situation, we will leave small amounts of troops deployed temporarily in five strategic points along the border in Lebanon,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists.

The decision was made “so we can continue to defend our residents and to make sure there’s no immediate threat”, he added.Lebanese officials have demanded Israel’s full withdrawal by Tuesday after Israeli forces missed an earlier January cut-off under the ceasefire.