Lebanon Denies News Israel Reports Extended Troop Placement

JAKARTA - Lebanon has denied reports that Israel has announced a decision to extend its troop presence, with an additional 15 days from its original schedule, at five border points according to the deadline for the ceasefire agreement, Sunday (26/1) as mediated by the US.

Informasi yang beredar di sejumlah media yang menyatakan pihak Israel telah memberitahukan Lebanon bahwa mereka akan tetap berada di lima titik perbatasan selama 15 hari adalah tidak benar, tulis pernyataan kantor media presiden Lebanese dilansir ANTARA dari Anadolu, Senin, 27 Januari.

President Joseph Aoun told the ceasefire monitoring committee he rejected it, according to the statement.

President Aoun continues to communicate internally and externally with parties linked to the ceasefire agreement to ensure the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied southern villages, he added.

Earlier, Lebanese soldiers announced their support to residents of southern Lebanese border cities in the face of Israeli soldiers.

It was reported that 22 people were killed and 124 others injured by Israeli forces on Sunday as displaced civilians attempted to return to their homes in southern Lebanon, according to local authorities.

Tensions escalated as Israeli soldiers remained in Lebanese territory after a 60-day deadline for their troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon ended on Sunday.

A fragile ceasefire has been going on between Israel and Lebanon since November 27, ending the period of attacking each other between Israel and the Hezbollah group which began on October 8, 2023, and escalated to a major conflict on September 23, 2024.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is required to withdraw its troops to the south of the Blue Line which is the de facto border gradually, while the Lebanese army will be stationed in southern Lebanon within 60 days.

Data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health shows that since Israel's attack on Lebanon began on October 8, 2023, at least 4,068 people have died, including women, children, and health workers, while another 16,670 have been injured.