US envoy says Israeli army will withdraw completely from southern Lebanon | Israel attacked Lebanon News
Israeli army to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon, US envoy Amos Hochstein he said, despite recent reports that Israel plans to maintain a permanent presence in the country.
Hochstein’s statement on Monday came as Israel withdrew its forces from Naqoura in the western sector of the border, while the Lebanese army deployed to the area.
“The Israeli army has begun its withdrawal from Naqoura, most of the western sector and today back into Israel proper, south of the Blue Line,” Hochstein told reporters in Beirut, referring to the unofficial border between the two countries.
“These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are completely out of Lebanon.”
However, the US official did not specify the timetable for the Israeli withdrawal.
A cease-fire agreement reached in November between Israel and Hezbollah stipulates that Israeli forces must leave Lebanon within 60 days, by January 26.
But media reports from Israel suggest that the Israeli military has no plans to do so compliance with the deadline.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement after meeting with Hochstein on Monday that delaying Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon is “strongly rejected.”
Last week, the United Nations reiterated its call for a “timely” Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
The Israeli military has been carrying out almost daily attacks in Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire, including airstrikes across the country, ground advances and the destruction of homes in areas under its control.
Israel claims it is implementing the agreement, which says Hezbollah must withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 km (19 miles) from the Israeli border.
Despite Israeli attacks, Hezbollah has held its fire since the deal came into force, with an exception a “warning strike” against an Israeli base last month.
Hezbollah officials said they were leaving room for the Lebanese government to address Israeli violations through diplomatic channels and the US “mechanism” for monitoring the agreement.
But Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned on Saturday that the group’s patience could run out before or after the 60-day period. “When we decide to do something, you will see it directly,” Qassem said in a televised speech.
Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military positions after the outbreak of the 15-month war in Gaza in a campaign it said was meant to pressure Israel to end its offensive on the besieged enclave.
After nearly a year of low-level cross-border hostilities, Israel launched an all-out war in Lebanon, killing thousands of people and destroying large swaths of the country.
During its attack, Israel dealt heavy blows to Hezbollah, killing several of its top military and political officials, including the powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israeli military also claimed to have destroyed most of the group’s rocket arsenal.
However, Hezbollah declared victory after the war, saying it had halted Israel’s ground advance and inflicted heavy damage on the invading soldiers. The Lebanese group also continued to fire rockets and drones at Israel throughout the conflict.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the country would be “forced to act” if Hezbollah did not withdraw from the border.
But Hochstein suggested the fragile ceasefire was holding. “This process is not smooth, but it is successful,” he said on Monday.
The Lebanese army confirmed its deployment in Naqoura earlier on Monday, but the municipality urged residents not to return to the city before the green light from authorities after opening roads and clearing unexploded ordnance.
