Lebanese army confirms deployment on border after Israeli withdrawal

The Lebanese army announced on Tuesday the deployment of its military units in a dozen towns in the south of the country and other border areas following the withdrawal of Israeli troops, which are still stationed at five other points along the border, during the last day of the extension of the ceasefire between the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and Israel.

According to a statement from the Lebanese Army, “On February 17 and 18, 2025, military units were deployed in the villages of Al Aabasiyeh, Al Mayidiye and Kafrkala-Marjayoun in the eastern sector, Adaiseh, Markaba, Houla, Mais al Jabal, Blida, Muhabib-Marjayoun, Marun al Ras and the remains of Bint Jbeil in the central sector.”

They have also been deployed in other border areas in the area south of the Litani River in coordination with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and the Five-Year Monitoring Committee of the Ceasefire Agreement "following the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy," the statement said.

The Lebanese army added that “the competent forces have begun to carry out engineering surveys, open roads, deal with unexploded ordnance and suspicious objects in these areas.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will remain at five points in Lebanon near the border in the buffer zone, despite the deadline for their withdrawal as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement having been met.

"Hezbollah must fully withdraw beyond the Litani (river) line and the Lebanese Army must enforce it and disarm its presence under the supervision of the mechanism established under US leadership," Katz added.

Israeli troops captured several villages in southern Lebanon during a ground operation launched on October 1, in parallel with the bombings they carried out against Hezbollah targets in large areas of the country.

The ceasefire, which came into effect on November 27 and was initially valid for 60 days, stipulated that within that period hostilities were to stop, Hezbollah was to disarm and withdraw north of the Litani River - some 30 kilometers north of the border with Israel - while the IDF was obliged to leave Lebanese territory.

Agencies contributed to this Aurora article