An Israeli tank in Wadi Hujeir, Dec. 27, 2024. (Photo sent by L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)
Following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which had deployed vehicles in the strategic Wadi Hujeir, the Lebanese army stressed on Thursday evening that this withdrawal had taken place "following contacts made by the committee" in charge of monitoring compliance with the cease-fire agreement.
As early as 7 a.m. on Thursday, Israeli tanks and soldiers entered the valley in the Marjayoun district, combing the area, erecting mounds of earth, damaging the road and shooting a civilian, who was briefly arrested. They then withdrew after a "reinforced" deployment of the Lebanese army in the area.
In its statement "following the incursion of the Israeli enemy in Kantara, Adsheet al-Qusayr and Wadi Hujeir," the army said that Israeli forces withdrew from the area "after a series of calls made by the agreement monitoring committee." This committee is made up of five parties: The Lebanese and Israeli armies, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and representatives of France and the United States, Generals Guillaume Ponchin and Jasper Jeffers.
After this withdrawal, the Lebanese army removed the earth embankments that had been placed by the Israelis to "block a road" and reopened the roads.
Protection of civilians
Furthermore, returning to the case of the arrest of a Lebanese civilian by the Israeli army the day before, the deputy director of the UNIFIL press office, Kandace Ardiel, said that the peacekeepers had "received a call from the Israeli army to evacuate a wounded citizen near Tallusseh." She confirmed that the man, originally from Tebnine, was "employed by one of UNIFIL's suppliers" and was on his way to one of the U.N. bases in the region. "We reiterate that civilians must be protected at all times," stressed Ardiel.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denied in a statement from his press office, information from the daily newspaper close to Hezbollah al-Akhbar, according to which Lebanon had been informed "via mediators that Israel would not withdraw from the south after the end of the truce."
On Thursday, the daily Haaretz, citing Israeli military sources, said that the army "is preparing" to remain in Lebanese territory even after the 60-day deadline, that is until the end of January. Al-Akhbar had reported that during the meeting on Tuesday at the Grand Serail between Mikati and several members of the international committee, the latter informed the prime minister of the "desire of the Israeli army to delay its withdrawal."
'Inability' of the army and the state
In its statement, the Serail reiterated the "consistent position" of Mikati who said that the "guarantors of the cease-fire agreement, namely the United States and France, must exert pressure" for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The caretaker prime minister justified that his government "finds itself in a situation for which it is not responsible and is fulfilling its duty with determination and perseverance."
While the authorities have raised their voices in recent days to demand that the monitoring committee take the necessary measures to prevent Israeli violations of the truce, Hezbollah has also repeatedly criticized what it considers to be the "inability" of the army, the state and the international community to confront Israel. The latest statement was made by the caretaker labor minister, affiliated with Hezbollah, who said that yesterday's incursion into Wadi Hujeir "proves that the only possible choice is that of resistance," the name the party gives itself in the face of Israel. "All other options have failed," the minister said.
