Israel on the Verge of Ending Ceasefire: Residents of Southern Lebanon Advised Not to Return

On Saturday, February 6, the Israeli army warned residents of villages in southern Lebanon to refrain from returning to the area until further notice. This warning came a day after a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicating that Israeli forces would not completely withdraw from southern Lebanon at the end of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Concurrently, the Lebanese army also urged residents of southern areas not to return to border regions due to the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance. The ceasefire agreement requires the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons and infrastructure, the withdrawal of Iranian-backed militants from southern Lebanon, the deployment of Lebanese military units, and the exit of Israeli forces from the area within 60 days, specifically by Sunday, February 7. This agreement was brokered by the United States and France. According to Netanyahu's statement on Friday, February 5, Lebanon has not fully met its commitments under the agreement, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon will continue 'in full coordination with the United States.' In response, the Lebanese army accused Israel of delaying its withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Over the past months, the Israeli army has been focused on destroying Hezbollah's weapons and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. In this context, the White House announced on Friday that a short and temporary extension of the ceasefire is necessary. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a conversation with his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun, stated that he is working to maintain and complete the implementation of the ceasefire. Aoun emphasized that Israel's adherence to the agreement would help maintain stability in southern Lebanon. Earlier, Hezbollah rejected any extension of Israeli forces' presence beyond the 60-day deadline, describing it as a 'clear violation' of the ceasefire agreement. This Iran-backed group warned that it would use 'all tools and methods guaranteed by international charters' to reclaim these areas from Israel. The Israeli army is currently stationed in several villages in the eastern part of southern Lebanon. In recent weeks, Lebanese army forces have been deployed in the western part of the region following the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Hezbollah has unilaterally launched rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 of last year. In response, Israel has conducted severe attacks against this group's positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members of this major Iranian proxy in the region, including its leader and senior military commanders such as Hassan Nasrallah, Fouad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks on Israel have displaced over 60,000 residents of northern Israel and killed dozens of its citizens. Israeli officials have repeatedly emphasized that the country will exert all its efforts to ensure the security of its northern borders and the return of displaced civilians to their homes. The U.S. has stressed the necessity of extending the ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel claims that Hezbollah has turned mosques into weapons depots. Netanyahu stated that a complete withdrawal of Israel from southern Lebanon will not happen for now. Israel has requested a faster implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. The new U.S. Secretary of State has discussed Iran with the Israeli Prime Minister. The European Union has provided $62 million in aid to the Lebanese armed forces.