IDF Lifts Legs, Lebanese Soldiers Deploy Troops Along Borders

The Lebanese military was deployed to the southern region. (Twitter/@LebarmyOfficial)

JAKARTA - Lebanese troops began deploying to a number of villages and cities in southern Lebanon, as Israel withdrew its troops in line with the deadline for withdrawals according to a ceasefire agreement that falls on Tuesday.

In uploads on the Lebanese military's X social media, it was written that they had deployed their personnel to a number of areas on February 17-18.

The areas include Abbasiyeh, Majidiyeh, Kfar Kela, Marjeyoun, Adaissah, Markaba, Houla, Mays Al-Jabal, Blide, Mahbib, Maroun al-Ras and the rest of Yaroun-Bint Jbeil.

"These troops were also deployed to other border locations in the South Litani region, coordinating with a committee of five people overseeing the ceasefire agreement (Mechanism) and the United Nations Temporary Forces in Lebanon - UNIFIL, following the withdrawal of Israeli troops," the Lebanese military wrote on X as quoted on February 18.

It said the special units had started conducting engineering surveys, paving roads and handling unexploded weapons and suspicious objects in the area.

بتاريخَي ١٧و١٨ /٢ /٢٠٢٥، انتشرت وحدات عسكرية في البلدات التالية:• العباسية، المجيدية، كفركلا – مرجعيون في القطاع الشرقي.• العديسة، مركبا، حولا، ميس الجبل، بليدا، محيبيب – مرجعيون في القطاع الأوسط.• مارون الراس والجزء المتبقي من يارون – بنت جبيل في القطاع الأوسط.… pic.twitter.com/U8pX4Odhxg

— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) February 18, 2025

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"Therefore, the army command stressed the need for citizens to comply with the direction of military units stationed in the southern region, to allow the completion of the work as quickly as possible, and to maintain their safety and safety," the military said.

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

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.

Under a ceasefire brokered by Washington in November 2023, 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, a source said.

On Tuesday, Lebanese security sources confirmed the IDF had completed its troop withdrawal from villages in southern Lebanon, but maintained its troop presence in five strategic locations, quoted from The Times of Israel.

"Israeli troops began withdrawing from border villages, including Mais al-Jabal and Blide, as Lebanese soldiers moved forward," said the official, who asked for his identity to be kept secret due to the sensitivity of the problem.

Hours later, a Lebanese security source said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had withdrawn from villages in southern Lebanon, but remained in five positions, a Lebanese security source said, as the deadline ended based on a ceasefire agreement.

"Israeli troops have been withdrawn from all border villages except five points, while Lebanese soldiers are gradually deployed due to explosives in several areas and road damage," the source said.