Historic souks completely destroyed in Nabatieh, South Lebanon. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/OLJ)
Sporadic Israeli strikes continued on Saturday to hit several localities in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army seems to want to maintain its presence after the 60-day cease-fire with Hezbollah.
A number of attacks marked the day. An Israeli tank fired a shell at an area located between Bint Jbeil and Maroun al-Ras, reported our correspondent in the South. Additionally, the Israeli army intermittently raked the area with machine guns. An Israeli artillery shell also fell near the Imam al-Sadr sports complex in the Doubieh area, west of the village of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun). Israeli drones also flew over the villages of Abbassieh, Burj Rahal, and Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in the Sour district, as well as the villages of Aba al-Sharqiya and Jibsheet in the Nabatieh district, on Saturday morning.
The Israeli army, which maintains a presence on roads leading to Deir Mimas, Burj al-Moulouk and Kfar Kila, advanced Friday towards the southern outskirts of Burj al-Moulouk. According to our correspondent, these movements occur when Israeli soldiers spot unusual activities, including those of residents returning to inspect the damage to their homes.
The Israeli presence in southern Lebanon
According to the Israeli army radio cited by several local media outlets, Israel is expected to inform Washington that it will not withdraw from Lebanon after the 60-day cease-fire with Hezbollah, which ends on Jan. 27. Israel should also let the United States know that it will not allow the residents of Lebanese villages near the border to return home, the radio added.
On its part, the Israeli Channel 12 reported that Tel-Aviv has informed Washington that the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon is linked to the situation on the ground.
Citing official Israeli sources, the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, however, reported that no decision had yet been made regarding an extension of the Israeli army's presence in Southern Lebanon after the end of the truce. According to the cease-fire agreement, which came into effect on Nov. 27, Israel is to withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days of this date.
Last week, unidentified officials from the Israeli army told the daily Haaretz that it "is preparing for the possibility of maintaining its presence in Southern Lebanon beyond the 60 days provided for in the cease-fire agreement."
"This delay will occur if the Lebanese army does not fulfill the obligations stipulated in the agreement and fails to regain full control of southern Lebanon," they specified. In such a scenario, the Israeli army "should remain in place until the Lebanese army can meet its commitments."
Additionally, the American administration of Joe Biden announced Saturday an arms sale to Israel estimated at $8 billion. The sale, which must still be approved by Congress, includes anti-aircraft defense munitions, according to a source close to the file.
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, delivered a speech on Saturday in commemoration of the assassination of Kassem Soleimani, killed on Jan. 3, 2020, in an American drone strike in Baghdad. He took the opportunity to discuss the latest political developments in Lebanon and the region, asserting that thanks to the "resilience and sacrifices" of Hezbollah, "the enemy was forced to accept a cease-fire agreement."
While he supported the Jan. 9 deadline for the election of a president in Lebanon, Qassem also warned that "Lebanon can no longer exist without the Resistance."
ICRC calls for maintaining the truce
In this context of fragile truce between the belligerents, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, visiting Lebanon on Saturday, emphasized that "the humanitarian needs remain enormous following the recent escalation of hostilities" and called for maintaining the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel.
"Civilians cannot bear a collapse of the cease-fire that would bring them back to violent fighting resulting in deaths and destruction. Maintaining the cease-fire is essential so that families can return home, rebuild their lives, and so that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most," said Spoljaric, according to an ICRC statement. She finally announced that she was traveling to Syria on Saturday to meet with the new authorities and assess the humanitarian needs in the country.
Also noteworthy is this statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), denouncing the "deliberate and direct destruction" by the Israeli army "of clearly identifiable UNIFIL property and infrastructure" of the Lebanese army, specifically on Saturday that of "a blue barrel marking the withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel at Labbouné, as well as an observation tower belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces, right next to a UNIFIL position," constituting "a flagrant violation of Resolution 1701 and international law."
