The Israel Defense Forces announced today that they are continuing to destroy Hezbollah weapons depots in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire that stipulates the withdrawal of troops before the end of January.
Israeli forces detailed today that soldiers recently located and dismantled five weapons depots in the south of the country containing some 200 mortar shells, loaded rocket launchers and military vests, among other things.
The army also said it had found a truck with a medium-range rocket launcher hidden in a mountainous area. Both the truck and the rocket launchers were seized.
Despite Israeli operations, the Lebanese army continued its deployment in several towns in the western and central sector of southern Lebanon on Tuesday, following the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The Lebanese Armed Forces announced in a statement that its troops “began to deploy to station” in the southern towns of Ras al Naqoura, Alma al Shaab, Tayr Harfa, Beit Lev, Bint Jbeil and “other towns in the western and central sectors after the Israeli enemy withdrew.”
They also indicated that they are still finalizing their deployment in Naqoura - where the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) is located - as their units are still working to "remove unexploded ordnance, open roads and clear debris."
The deployment took place a day after the US mediator Amos Hochstein said from Beirut that the Israeli troops still in southern Lebanon will gradually withdraw until they are “completely out” of Lebanese territory., while acknowledging that this process “is not easy.”
Hochstein confirmed the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Naqoura and that the military had returned to northern Israel.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, warned on Sunday that if Hezbollah does not withdraw north of the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border with Israel, the ceasefire agreement will not hold.
"The first condition for the implementation of the agreement is the complete withdrawal of the terrorist organization Hezbollah beyond the Litani River (…), if this condition is not met there will be no agreement," the minister said in a statement.
The truce, agreed on November 27, established that the Israeli Army must withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days - of which 42 have passed - and hand over control of the area to the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers.
So far, Israel has only announced the withdrawal of one of its divisions from two cities, and according to local reports and bans on civilians issued by the Israeli military, maintains a presence in around 60 locations.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.
…The militiamen should thank Israel…it is like neutralizing smoking and the temptation to relight the pipe (not of peace)…but of suicide…and the Lebanese statement wanted to say: “when our cousins cross the border…(deep down: they are not mutual enemies, right?). So be it.
How are these bastards who until 10 minutes ago thought they were invincible chewing poop?
Let Iran continue