Israel builds concrete wall along the Blue Line with Lebanon
The concrete wall, built by Israeli forces and completed in January, is seen near the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra
An Israeli military excavator drives past destroyed houses in the Lebanese village of Dhayra near the border with northern Israel, on Monday
What are the five hilltops in Lebanon that Israel plans to remain on?
The deadline for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon has now passed.
We have more information on the five locations where the Israeli army has said its troops will remain.
They are:
- a hill near Labbouneh, across from the Israeli town of Shlomi
- the Jabal Blat peak, across from the Israeli town of Zar’it
- a hill across from the Israeli towns of Avivim and Malkia
- a hill across from the Israeli town of Margaliot
- a hill across from the Israeli town of Metula.
None of the posts is located within built-up areas but Israel has said it will prevent “suspects” from approaching the Israeli border and newly established positions, according to our correspondent.
Lebanese soldiers, UN forces deploy in south Lebanon villages after Israeli troops pull out
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) is reporting that Israeli forces have withdrawn at dawn today from several towns and villages they had occupied in the south of the country and are maintaining a presence at five points along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Israeli troops pulled out from Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Blida, Meiss el-Jabal, Hula, Markaba, Odaisseh, Kfar Kila, and Wazzani.
Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL forces have deployed to the “liberated towns”, while engineers and municipal workers are now removing earthen barriers and clearing unexploded ordnance and shells, NNA reported.It said Lebanese officials are calling on residents not to enter their villages until the army can survey the areas the Israeli military has left.
It said Lebanese officials are calling on residents not to enter their villages until the army can survey the areas the Israeli military has left.
UN says Israel violating Security Council resolution on Lebanon
UN envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force have said in a joint statement that at “the end of the period set” for Israel’s withdrawal and the Lebanese army’s deployment, any further “delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen” and a violation of a 2006 Security Council resolution that ended a past Israel-Hezbollah war.
“The new Lebanese President and Government are determined to extend state authority completely in all areas in the south and consolidate stability to prevent conflict from returning to Lebanon. They deserve unwavering support in this endeavour,” they said.
As we have reported earlier, Israeli forces pulled out from Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Blida, Meiss el-Jabal, Hula, Markaba, Odaisseh, Kfar Kila, and Wazzani, but remain at five hilltops along the Israel-Lebanon border.
