Lebanon Reports 14 Killed by Israeli Forces After Withdrawal Deadline Lapses 

Lebanese authorities report that 14 people have been killed by Israeli forces after the missed withdrawal deadline, escalating tensions in the region.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli soldiers have killed at least 14 individuals and injured over 80 in southern Lebanon. This incident occurred as the Israeli military stayed in parts of the region past a withdrawal deadline aimed at ensuring Hezbollah’s exit from those areas.

On Sunday morning, despite warnings from the Lebanese and Israeli armies as well as the UN that the region remained unsafe, thousands of residents returned to towns and villages along the border.

Israel stated that the 60-day ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah had not been fully implemented, and it was still uncertain how many of its soldiers remained in Lebanon or for how long they would stay.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli forces targeted individuals attempting to enter areas still under occupation. Additionally, the Lebanese army announced that Israeli fire resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to another.

The Israeli military reported that it had fired “warning shots in several areas” of southern Lebanon but did not specify whether anyone was hit. They also detained individuals they believed posed an “imminent threat”.

The ceasefire agreement, facilitated by the US and France to conclude 14 months of conflict, required Israeli troop withdrawal and the removal of Hezbollah fighters and weapons from southern Lebanon. Concurrently, thousands of Lebanese soldiers were anticipated to be deployed to an area where Hezbollah had been dominant for decades.

A Western diplomatic official, who requested to remain anonymous and is knowledgeable about the negotiations, stated that Israel indicated it required additional time to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The original plan involved a 30-day extension.

Recently, Hezbollah’s television network Al Manar seemed to urge people to head back south. In certain areas, convoys arrived displaying the group’s yellow and green flag.

The expiration of the ceasefire deadline serves as the first significant challenge for Lebanon’s new president, Army Chief Joseph Aoun, who is eager to restore stability to a nation worn out by numerous crises.

In a statement released on Sunday, he declared that Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable,” emphasizing that he is addressing this issue at the highest levels.

In September of last year, the conflict intensified, resulting in a vigorous Israeli air campaign throughout Lebanon. This included the assassination of senior Hezbollah leaders and a ground invasion into southern Lebanon. The offensive resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths within Lebanon—many among them civilians—and caused over 1.2 million residents to be displaced from their homes.

On Friday, the Israeli prime minister’s office stated that the withdrawal detailed in the ceasefire depended on two conditions: first, the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon to fully and effectively enforce the agreement; second, Hezbollah must withdraw beyond 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Israel’s unofficial border with Lebanon known as “The Blue Line”, essentially crossing over past “The Litani” River.

“The statement indicated that as the Lebanese state has not yet fully enforced the ceasefire agreement, the gradual withdrawal process will persist in close coordination with the US.”