Israel will stay in south Lebanon, says military spokesperson

Israeli occupation forces will remain in southern Lebanon after 18 February as the implementation period for the ceasefire deal has been extended, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X today.

“Urgent announcement to the people of Lebanon, especially South Lebanon! The period of implementation of the agreement has been extended and the IDF is still deployed in the field, thus moving south is forbidden,” he wrote, adding that “Anyone moving south is putting themselves in danger.”

#عاجل إعلان عاجل إلى سكان لبنان وخاصة الجنوب اللبناني!
🔸تم تمديد فترة تطبيق الاتفاق ولا يزال جيش الدفاع منتشرًا في الميدان ولذلك يمنع الانتقال جنوبًا.
🔸جيش الدفاع لا ينوي المساس بكم. من أجل سلامتكم يحظر عليكم العودة إلى منازلكم في المناطق المعنية حتى إشعار آخر.
🔸كل من يتحرك… pic.twitter.com/I7q2NcA1OG

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) February 12, 2025

Israel was due to withdraw from southern Lebanon by 26 January, however this was extended to 18 February with agreement from mediator, America.

Lebanon has accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire deal and filed a complaint against the occupation state with the UN Security Council. Lebanese media has reported over 830 Israeli breaches since the ceasefire came into force at the end of November.

The original agreement required Lebanon’s military to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers as Israel withdrew, with Hezbollah pulling back north of the Litani River.

READ: Lebanon calls proposals to displace Palestinians from Gaza ‘imaginary’