A wall of smoke rises from where the Israeli army bombed the southern Lebanese village of Khiam, on Oct. 25, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
An Israeli airstrike targeted the main square of Khiam in southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, killing at least two people, according to local sources cited by our regional correspondent.
On Wednesday evening, the Israeli forces withdrew from Khiam, in southern Lebanon, and were replaced by the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, according to statements from all three parties and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Khiam was the scene of intense fighting during Israel's ground invasion and it never fully captured the town, though it continued its advancements and demolitions in the town even after the cease-fire was brought into effect on Nov. 27.
Since Nov. 27, the Israeli army has conducted several airstrikes in southern Lebanon, mostly drone strikes, resulting in at least 32 deaths, the majority of which were caused by drone attacks.
"Not even 24 hours had passed since the army deployed in Khiam and Marjayoun in accordance with the cease-fire, when the Israeli enemy targeted Khiam again, causing deaths and injuries," denounced caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement. "This blatant treachery violates all past agreements and the cease-fire," he continued, calling on France and the United States "to take a clear stance on what has happened" today. "It is the responsibility of the cease-fire monitoring committee to remedy these ongoing violations immediately, and to prevent their recurrence," concluded Mikati.
On Wednesday, UNIFIL announced having entered Khiam, six kilometers from the Blue Line, for the first time since the cease-fire, while explosions were still heard throughout the town — the result of the Israeli army's ongoing demolitions of homes. In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Lebanese Army announced that it had established positions at five locations around Khiam, in coordination with UNIFIL, as part of the "first phase of deployment" in the area.
According to our correspondent, the Israeli army withdrew from Wata al-Khiam, in the southern part of the town, early Thursday afternoon. At the same time, the Khiam municipality urged residents to follow the instructions provided by the Lebanese authorities and the army. It also reiterated a statement issued the previous day by the army, advising residents not to enter the area until mine-clearance teams had given the all-clear.
The army stated that its deployment had been authorized following "contacts established by the [cease-fire] monitoring committee" and that a subsequent phase would occur after "specialized units" inspected the town for unexploded missiles. The army urged residents to avoid the area and comply with its instructions until the deployment was complete.
The Khiam municipality announced that Lebanese Army soldiers have already been deployed to five positions around Khiam, in coordination with UNIFIL, though the deployment will be completed in the next phase. "We understand your eagerness to return to the land of our beloved Khiam. However, we must remain cautious to ensure the safety of lives. The return is just a matter of a few days' patience, pending the full withdrawal of the enemy army and the release of statements from the army command, which will determine the safe return date to your homes," the municipality stated.
CENTCOM leader General Erik Kurilla "was present at the implementation and monitoring headquarters today during the ongoing first Israeli [army] withdrawal and Lebanese Armed Forces replacement in Khiam, Lebanon," CENTCOM said in a statement. "This is an important first step in the implementation of a lasting cessation of hostilities and lays the foundation for continued progress," the statement quoted Kurilla as saying.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that the stationing of troops "in the Khiam and Marjayoun areas [Wednesday] represents a fundamental step towards strengthening the army's deployment in the South, in implementation of the cease-fire decision."
On Wednesday evening, the Israeli military announced its 7th Brigade had "concluded their mission in Khiam in southern Lebanon," and the Pentagon later said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. Austin "emphasized that the cease-fire... has the potential to create the conditions to restore lasting calm and enable residents on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return safely to their homes," the U.S. readout said.
Israel stepped up its military campaign in southern Lebanon in late September after nearly a year of cross-border fighting following Hezbollah's launching of a 'support front' against Israel and in support of Palestinians in Gaza. A cease-fire came into effect on Nov. 27 and is generally holding, though both sides appear to have repeatedly violated deal, with the Israeli army continuing to fire artillery shells, launch drone strikes and destroy homes. Since the cease-fire began, the Israeli army has killed at least 30 people in attacks on Lebanon.
As part of the agreement, the Lebanese Army and United Nations peacekeepers will deploy in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a period of 60 days.Hezbollah is also meant to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.