Hezbollah Leader Affirms All Israeli Soldiers Must Leave Lebanon Tomorrow

The Israeli military in southern Lebanon. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Lebanese militant group leader Hezbollah said on Sunday Israeli forces should withdraw completely from Lebanese territory by 18 January, insisting "there is no excuse" to maintain military presence at any post in southern Lebanon.

Under a ceasefire brokered by Washington in November, Israeli forces were given 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon where they launched a ground attack on Iranian-backed fighters from Hezbollah since early October.

The deadline was later extended to February 18, but the Israeli military requested that its troops remain at five posts in southern Lebanon, sources told Reuters last week.

In a televised address, Secretary General Hezbollah Naim Qassem said: "Israel must withdraw completely on February 18, there is no pretext, no five points or other details, this is the deal."

Qassem said any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after February 18 would be considered a occupation force.

"Everyone knows how the occupation is handled," Qassem stressed, without explicitly threatening his group would continue the attack on Israel.

Earlier, Israeli public broadcaster said on Wednesday the United States had allowed the presence of "long term" Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

During a Qassem speech broadcast, at least three Israeli airstrikes hit Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it carried out an attack after identifying Hezbollah activity at a location containing rocket launchers and other weapons.

Qassem also asked the Lebanese government to reconsider its ban on Iranian flights landing in Beirut.

Lebanese authorities banned the flight from landing until February 18, after Israel's accusations that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash into Beirut to arm Hezbollah.

The decision left dozens of Lebanese nationals displaced in Iran, where they made religious pilgrimages with plans to return via Iran's Mahan Air. Lebanon sent two of its own planes to pick them up, but Iran banned them from landing in Tehran.

Qassem described Lebanon's ban on Iranian aircraft as "implementation of Israeli orders".

"Let the plane land and we'll see what Israel will do," he said.