South Lebanon residents accompanied by the army tried to return to their villages on Monday, a day after Israeli fire killed more than 20 people in the area, even though the Israeli withdrawal deadline was extended until February 18.
Dozens of vehicles carrying families headed towards border towns, a day after hundreds tried unsuccessfully to return to their homes in the area, particularly in the Western and Central sectors.
Lebanon's health ministry said that fresh "Israeli enemy attacks" killed two people and wounded 17 others, including a child and a paramedic from the Islamic Message Scouts the village of Bani Hayyan on Monday, as villagers attempted to return to their homes.
The total toll from the previous day’s attacks has now reached 24 fighters and 134 injuries. The Ministry is coordinating with hospitals to provide swift care and transport for the injured.
Locals return
In the village of Burj el-Muluk, dozens of men, women and children gathered in the morning behind a dirt barrier, some holding yellow Hezbollah flags, hoping to reach the border town of Kfar Kila, where the Israeli military is still deployed.
In the city of Bint Jbeil, an access point for many border villages, Hezbollah supporters were distributing sweets, water and images of former chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in September.
Others handed out stickers celebrating the "victory from God" as women held pictures of slain Hezbollah fighters.
It said the Israeli army had "opened fire in the direction of the Lebanese army" near the town, without reporting casualties. The bodies of five Hezbollah fighters were also found along the road between Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila.
In the nearby town of Hula, the agency said residents entered "after the deployment of the army in several neighborhoods".
Israeli drones also dropped bombs near Yaroun, where residents attempted to return, though no injuries occurred.
Ceasefire extension
As the awaited January 27 date – the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war – approached, the White House said just before the midnight cutoff that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon until February 18. This comes after Israel requested more time to withdraw.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Monday Lebanon agreed to the extension after contact with the US.
Mikati confirmed the government’s ongoing efforts to maintain stability in the south and uphold the ceasefire. Mikati said he had consulted with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri about developments in southern Lebanon and US-mediated negotiations concerning the ceasefire.
In a statement, Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to sovereignty and security, adding that the government had formally requested US intervention to secure the release of Lebanese detainees held in Israeli prisons since October 7.
US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff said in response to the announcement that “there is reason to be positive about the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire holding further.”
LAF deployment
In the meantime, the Lebanese Army (LAF) expanded its deployment in coordination with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols. The operation focused on the central and western sectors, particularly the city of Bint Jbeil and surrounding areas.
The LAF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bani Hayan leading to Markaba, as municipal workers began clearing and paving roads toward Wadi Slouki. Meanwhile, reinforcements were dispatched to the outskirts of Mays al-Jabal in preparation for entering the town. Residents of Mays al-Jabal also began gathering in anticipation of reentering their town under the army’s guidance.
The LAF also deployed reinforcements to towns like Mays al-Jabal, Aitaroun, and Bani Hayyan in the afternoon.
Reports indicate that the Lebanese Army also entered the border town of Marwahin in the afternoon, as well as in Deir Mimas, located in the Marjayoun area.
A UNIFIL helicopter flew for the first time in months over border villages and the Litani river in Wadi Slouki-al-Hujair.
For its part, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced in a press release that two people, including a child, had been injured in Bani Hayan on Monday.
The Army Command announced that the officers of the military institution are carrying out their missions with the highest degree of professionalism, in accordance with the orders of their commanders.
Israeli statements
The Israeli army, however, announced delays in its withdrawal from some areas, citing efforts to prevent Hezbollah from regaining its foothold. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, announced on Monday morning on X that Israeli troops were redeploying in southern Lebanon “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement,” while emphasizing measures to “ensure Hezbollah is not enabled to consolidate its strength.”
Adraee urged Lebanese residents to await official notifications before returning to their towns and accused Hezbollah of attempting to exploit the situation for political leverage. “Do not allow Hezbollah to exploit you or cover up its irresponsible decisions that compromise the security of the Lebanese state,” he said, reiterating that earlier safety instructions remain in effect “until further notice.”
It is important to note that there is, as of yet, no specific date for Israelis to return to the northern part of the country, which they left after the war between Hezbollah and Israel began on October 8, 2023.
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