Israeli troops partially retreat to southern Lebanon, the villagers return to a wide damage

The Israeli forces withdrew on Tuesday from the border villages in South Lebanon, in accordance with the deadline stated in the US agreement on the termination of fire that ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war, but remained on five strategic turmoil in Lebanon.

Top Lebanese leaders denied the continuous presence of Israeli troops as an occupation and violation of the agreement, claiming that Israel is obliged to completely withdraw until Tuesday. The presence of the trunk is also a painful point for the militant group of Hezbollah, which demanded action from the authorities.

Lebanese soldiers moved to the areas from which the Israeli troops retreated and began to clean the blockade of the roads that set the Israeli forces and checked an unexploded command. They blocked the main road leading to the village, preventing anyone from entering while the army sought any explosive that was behind.

Most villagers waited along the road for permission to leave and check their homes, but some pushed the obstacles to march. Elsewhere, the army enabled the residents to enter.

Many of their houses were demolished during more than many years of conflict or in two months after an agreement on the termination of fire in November, when Israeli forces still occupied the area.

“Nothing left,” says a resident who returns to the village

In the border village of Kfar Kila, people were stunned by the amount of destruction, and the entire parts of the houses were deleted.

“What I see is out of belief. I am in a state of shock,” said Khodo Suleiman, a construction contractor, pointing to his destroyed home on the hill.

“No homes, no plants, nothing left,” said Suleiman, who was last in Kfar Kili six months ago. “I feel a blend of happiness and pain.”

In the main village square, the Lebanese troops arranged as a military bulldozer removed the ruins from the street.

The Lebanese civilian defense announced on Tuesday that 23 bodies were drawn under the ruins in the southern Libano villages of Kfar Kila, Maya al-Jabal, Odaisseh and Markaba.

Local sources said that those found dead and alive were Hezbollah fighters, of whom thousands were killed in the war.

Israel was supposed to withdraw until January 26, but it was extended to February 18th after accusing Lebanon of not implementing conditions. At the time, Lebanon accused Israel of delaying his withdrawal.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army “would remain in the tampon zone in Lebanon in five control places” to keep Hezbollah from a violation of the truce. He also said that the army raised new positions on the Israeli side of the border and sent reinforcements there.

“We are determined to provide complete security for every northern community,” Katz said.

The remaining Israeli presence violates an agreement on the interruption of fire

Hezbollah MP, Hassan Fadlallah, speaking with Reuters in Yaroun, said: “The enemy of Israel is still occupying the Lebanese country and this Lebanese country must be liberated, and now the main responsibility falls to the Lebanese state.”

Lebanese three best officials – the president of the country, the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament – said in a joint statement that the constant presence of Israel in five locations violated the fire interruption agreement. They called on the UN Security Council to take measures to force a fully Israeli withdrawal.

“The continuation of the Israeli presence in any inch of the Lebanese territory is occupation, with all legal consequences that are result in international legitimacy,” the statement said.

The presence of Israeli troops has also been criticized in a joint statement by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the UN Peace Policy Head of the Lázaro Lieutenant.

The two of them warned, however, that it should not “overshadow the tangible progress that was reached” from the fire interruption agreement.

‘There are no homes, the buildings that stand’

Near the Lebanese villages of Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila, hundreds of villagers gathered early on Tuesday morning as the Israeli unmanned aircraft flew above.

Atef Arabi, who waited with his wife and two daughters before sunrise, wanted to see what was left of his house in Kfar Kila.

“I’m very happy to be back, even if I think my home has been destroyed,” said a 36-year-old car mechanic. “If I find my house destroyed, I’ll renew it.”

Later on Tuesday, Kfar Kile Mayor, Hassan Sheet, said Associated Press that 90 percent of the rural homes were completely destroyed, while the remaining 10 percent were damaged.

“There are no homes or buildings,” he said, adding that the renovation would start over.

The Lebanese militant group of Hezbollah began shooting rockets across the border on October 8, 2023, a day after a deadly invasion of Hamas in southern Israel, which caused the war in Gaza. Israel responded by shelling and air attacks in Lebanon, and two sides became locked in a escalated conflict that became full of war last September.

More than 4,000 people were killed in Lebanon, and more than a million were displaced in the midst of conflict, more than 100,000 of which failed to return home. On the Israeli side, dozens of people were killed and about 60,000 were displaced.

Hussein Fares left Kfar Kilu in October 2023 for the southern town of Natiyiyeh. When the fighting reinforced in September, he moved with their family to the city of Sidon, where they got a room in their school accommodation.

Kfar Kila saw intense struggles, and the Israeli troops later detonated many of their homes.

“I waited for him to return for a year and a half,” said Fares, who has a truck and works as a worker. He said he understood that the renovation process would take time.

“I’m counting seconds for this day,” he said.