Abdelrahman
Title: Tensions Rise in Southern Lebanon as Israeli Forces Clash with Civilians
Location: BEIRUT (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday when Israeli military forces opened fire on a group of residents attempting to return to their village of Houla in southern Lebanon. This confrontation resulted in the death of one woman and left several others injured, according to reports from the Lebanese state-operated news agency.
As the clock ticks down to the implementation of a ceasefire agreement that concluded the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in late November, the Israeli military has yet to release a statement regarding this incident. The ceasefire calls for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanese territory.
Originally slated for late January, the withdrawal deadline was extended to February 18 to facilitate the process. Just hours prior to this extension on January 27, widespread protests erupted as hundreds of citizens tried to enter villages still under Israeli control, demanding an end to the occupation. During these protests, Israeli forces opened fire in multiple locations, resulting in over 20 fatalities, with Israel attributing the violence to actions incited by Hezbollah.
At this time, it remains uncertain if Israel will adhere to the full withdrawal by the upcoming deadline. In a televised address on Sunday, Hezbollah’s leader Naim Kassem asserted that Israel must vacate all positions in Lebanon by February 18, emphasizing that there can be no justifications or alterations to the agreement. Kassem was specifically addressing a proposal from Israel, which suggested maintaining a presence at five contested border points beyond the deadline—an offer that Lebanese officials have firmly rejected.
Kassem proclaimed that it is now the Lebanese government’s responsibility to apply political pressure for a total Israeli withdrawal, stating, “There can be no excuses or distractions under any pretext.”
The atmosphere in Lebanon has intensified leading up to the deadline, particularly after authorities rescinded permission for an Iranian plane set to travel from Tehran to Beirut, leaving many Lebanese passengers stranded. This decision followed Israeli allegations that Iran was using civilian flights to funnel money to Hezbollah, prompting threats from Israel to take action against the plane.
In a related incident, the deputy commander of the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, sustained injuries on Friday when a convoy transporting peacekeepers was attacked by protesters. Kassem condemned the assault on UNIFIL but also criticized the Lebanese military for using tear gas against peaceful demonstrators on Saturday.
He further chastised the Lebanese government for preventing Iranian flights, arguing that the decision was influenced by Israeli threats to strike the airport if those planes landed. “This is not about ensuring civilian safety during a challenging period,” Kassem argued. “It raises questions about national sovereignty and our independence from Israeli influence.”
Additionally, the Lebanese National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike targeting a bulldozer clearing a road blocked by Israeli forces near Marwahin on Sunday. Fortunately, there were no casualties from this incident.
The Israeli military later issued a statement indicating that they had conducted “precision strikes based on intelligence” targeting military sites in Lebanese territory that were believed to house Hezbollah weaponry and rocket launchers. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army, which has begun to assume control of areas vacated by Israeli forces, has urged citizens to refrain from entering regions that have not yet been secured by their troops.
