Southern Lebanese Civilians Liberate their Villages from Israeli Occupation

On Nov. 27, 2024, after over two months of the Israeli-waged war against Lebanon, the U.S. and France-brokered ceasefire agreement went into effect.
At 4 a.m. local time, displaced civilians from Southern Lebanon, Beqaa, and Beirut’s Southern Suburb (Dahyeh), rushed back to their regions for the first time in over two months.
The return, however, was not complete, as the residents of the border villages of South Lebanon were still unable to return.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, a 60-day period was given for the Israeli army to completely withdraw from South Lebanon, and for the Lebanese army to deploy South of the Litani River.
During these 60 days, the Israeli army continued to conduct airstrikes in South Lebanon and the Beqaa, detonating entire neighborhoods, flying its warplanes across the country, and even bulldozing roads.
Israel breached the ceasefire agreement about 1,350 times.
Hezbollah Responds
On Dec. 2, 2024, Hezbollah conducted an operation that targeted the Israeli outpost Ruwaisat al-Alam, which lies in the occupied Lebanese Kfarchouba Hills. In a statement, Hezbollah labeled this operation as an “initial warning and defensive response” to the Israeli violations.
No further military action was taken from Lebanon.
Jan. 26 marked the end of the 60-day period. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had stated before Sunday that Israel will extend this period beyond the 60 days, as the Lebanese army had not fully deployed in South Lebanon yet.
Hezbollah, on the other hand, issued a statement in which they labeled any extension of the 60-day framework a “blatant violation of the agreement and a continued infringement on Lebanese sovereignty.”
Hezbollah also considered that any breach of the agreement and commitments will be unacceptable, and that “any attempt to evade them under flimsy pretexts is rejected.” The party called for strict adherence to the terms without any concessions.
Lebanese Civilians Liberate their Towns
The people of the border villages of South Lebanon had already agreed to gather on the outskirts of their villages and break in despite all efforts to prevent them. Calls were made to gather the masses to create a human flood to expel the Israeli army from the villages.
The Lebanese residents, who had been displaced for over 15 months, were able to liberate several towns and entered with the Lebanese army. However, Israeli soldiers continued their attempts to prevent the people from advancing and shot at them on multiple occasions.
By the end of the first day of the confrontations, 24 Lebanese civilians had been killed, including six women, and 134 were wounded, including 14 women and 12 children, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Despite the severity of the situation, more people continue heading to the border villages from all across Lebanon to support the Southern Lebanese.
As the confrontations resumed, the White House announced an extension of the ceasefire until Feb. 18, 2025.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Kassem stated in a speech delivered on Jan. 27 that this extension was rejected by Hezbollah. He also stated that Hezbollah had the right to choose the time, nature, and manner of the confrontation should the Israeli violations resume.
Sheikh Kassem also explained the reasons behind Hezbollah’s silence during the 60-day period, which included allowing the ceasefire agreement a chance to succeed and for the Lebanese government to carry out its responsibilities of defending its lands.
On Jan. 28, Israel returned with more airstrikes on several areas in South Lebanon, namely in the Nabatiye and Zahrani areas, both of which lie north of the Litani River — the area which UNSCR 1701 does not cover.
What the coming days will carry remains unclear as tensions arise once more.
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