Lebanon braces amid high tensions over the Israeli withdrawal deadline with doubts surrounding if Tel Aviv will abandon it’s occupation of Lebanese land and cease their relentless violent violations.
Amid speculation that Israel may keep their forces inside Lebanese territory past the February 18 deadline, the leader of the western designated Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has warned that Israel must withdraw.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Sunday that Israeli forces must fully leave Lebanese territory and rejected any claims that Tel Aviv has a right to retain military positions in southern Lebanon.
He accused Israel of attempting to impose conditions that contradict the agreement brokered in November, 2024, as part of a Lebanese ceasefire agreement which saw Hezbollah end its direct support for Gaza amid the ongoing genocide.
Truce agreement and deadline
Described at the time as a “victory for Lebanon and the resistance”, the U.S.-brokered truce in November gave Israel 60 days to withdraw from areas it had entered during its ground offensive against Hezbollah fighters, which began in early October, 2024.
That deadline was later extended to February 18, 2025, though Israeli officials reportedly sought to maintain a presence in five military outposts in southern Lebanon.
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Hezbollah has consistently rejected these conditions, insisting that Lebanon’s territory must remain free of foreign occupation.
“Israel must withdraw completely on February 18, it has no pretext, no five points or other details… this is the agreement,” Qassem said in a televised speech.
He reiterated that any Israeli military presence beyond this date would constitute an occupation, and Lebanon has the right to resist such a scenario.
Meanwhile, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that Washington had approved a “long-term” Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
This development has raised concerns in Beirut, with political analysts suggesting that the United States may be shifting its stance on the issue.
Israel attacks at will
During Qassem’s speech, Israeli warplanes conducted at least three airstrikes on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, causing multiple explosions and reports of casualties.
The attacks allegedly targeted Hezbollah positions, a regular claim made by Israel when targeting Lebanese positions after the ceasefire was agreed.
Lebanese officials have condemned the strikes as a violation of their sovereignty and a provocation that could escalate tensions further.
With tensions already high, analysts warn that failure to meet the February 18 deadline could reignite hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, potentially leading to another prolonged conflict in Lebanon.
However, Israel has been attacking Lebanon, including shooting at unarmed civilians attempting to return to their homes in the south but Hezbollah has chosen not to retaliate.
Possibly due to the groups weakened status after Israel decapitated its leadership, conducted a massive pager attack on its members across the country and the collapse of a key ally in the Iran-led axis of resistance, Bashar Al Assad in Syria.
On Monday, just one day before the deadline, Israel conducted a drone strike on a car in Saida, killing one suspected member of the Palestinian group Hamas.
Israel has continued to attack and kill inside Lebanese territory with impunity.
Iranian flights banned
The Lebanese government has witnessed a backlash from some Shia Muslim Lebanese after banning Iranian flights to Beirut. The move was called “the implementation of an Israeli order” by supporters of Hezbollah.
The ban, in effect until February 18, followed Israeli accusations that Tehran was using civilian planes to smuggle cash to Hezbollah.
The Lebanese government has defended the move, arguing that it was a precautionary measure to avoid escalating tensions with Israel.
However, Hezbollah and its allies have dismissed this justification, viewing it as a capitulation to foreign pressure.
The decision left dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran, where they had been on religious pilgrimage.
Lebanon attempted to repatriate them using its own aircraft, but Iranian authorities barred the planes from landing in Tehran.
On Saturday, Hezbollah supporters protested outside Beirut airport against the ban, prompting Lebanese troops to fire tear gas to disperse them.
The protest drew hundreds of demonstrators, who chanted slogans condemning the Lebanese government’s decision and demanding the immediate resumption of Iranian flights.
Some protesters attempted to breach airport security, leading to clashes with security forces who fired teargas at the demonstrators.
The protests regarding Israel’s apparent ability to control Lebanon’s skies has mostly be Shia backed anti-government protests who have coincidentally not criticised the Hezbollah group for their role in temporarily ending armed resistance to Israeli aggression.
The Lebanese government headed by President Joseph Aoun has also insisted that Israeli forces must leave Lebanon on Feb 18 but has raised concerns that Israel may not fully withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon by the agreed deadline on Tuesday.
“We are afraid that a complete withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow,” Aoun said, stressing that “the important thing is to achieve the Israeli withdrawal, and Hezbollah’s weapons come as part of solutions the Lebanese agree on.”
