The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday (Feb. 17) that its troops will remain deployed at five strategic points in southern Lebanon beyond the deadline to withdraw from the region upon the expiration of the ceasefire agreement, set for Feb. 18.
The United States has authorized the IDF to remain in the five points, albeit without specifying any length of time for the deployment. The IDF, however, has made it clear that the troops will remain in position until the political echelon decides otherwise.
IDF troops will be “temporarily deployed” at the following five strategic points along the Lebanese border, according to an Israeli security official:
1. Hasullam mountain range – overlooking Shlomi
2. Hashaked mountain range – overlooking Avivim and Mallaqi’a
3. Hatzivoni mountain range – overlooking Saluq and Margaliot
4. Jabal Blat – overlooking Zarit, Nurit and Shtula
5. Hamamis – overlooking Har-Dov, Metula and the Valley communities.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun told reporters on Monday that he fears Israel may not fully withdraw its forces by the ceasefire extension deadline.
Speaking to Lebanese journalists, Aoun said, however, that a continuation of war with Israel is not an option. “We will work through diplomacy because Lebanon cannot bear another war,” Aoun said, adding that the Lebanese army is prepared to deploy in southern Lebanon and along the border.
Aoun previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Lebanese Armed Forces until his recent election as Lebanon’s president.
The Lebanese Armed Forces were to have evicted Hezbollah from southern Lebanon and dismantled all of the terrorist infrastructure and weaponry prior to the ceasefire expiration deadline, but have yet to carry out the task.
It is important to note that five of the 24 ministers named to Lebanon’s new government cabinet represent the Hezbollah terrorist organization and its ally, Amal. Due to the Iranian-linked Hezbollah tentacles entwined within the Lebanese government, it is unlikely that Lebanese military forces will be able to meet their obligation under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah has repeatedly violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement since its inception, as it did following the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
On Sunday (Feb. 16), Israeli forces demolished a Hezbollah tunnel on the Lebanese side of Mount Dov that was discovered several weeks ago.
The tunnel, dozens of meters long, was built and used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and included several rooms and weapons stockpiles.
The subterranean complex was discovered by soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade and the Yahalom Unit, under the command of the 810th Mountains Regional Brigade.
Hezbollah has continued its preparations for resuming the conflict with Israel ahead of the expiration of the ceasefire agreement, after which Israel was to have withdrawn from Lebanese territory.
Just a day before the ceasefire is set to expire, however, Israeli forces have also discovered a jeep carefully concealed under a huge pile of earth close to Israel’s northern border, packed with hundreds of kilos of explosives.
Troops of the 810th Brigade, under the command of the 210th Division, have carried out dozens of limited, localized, targeted raids throughout their operations in southern Lebanon to remove threats against Israel and its civilians — which is how the “jeep bomb” was discovered.
