A photo showing the deployment of the Lebanese Army in coordination with UNIFIL. Photo taken from the official X account of the Lebanese army.
Despite a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah taking effect on Nov. 27, 2024, the Israeli army continued demolishing homes daily in the border village of Naqoura until Monday, the day its troops withdrew from the town in the Sour district. Initial entrants to the village found widespread destruction.
“The village is almost entirely destroyed,” said Abbas Awada, president of the municipal council, in comments reported by the National News Agency (NNA, official). Awada urged residents “to delay their return to the village until the army’s ground inspection is completed, due to the risk of unexploded munitions.”
The municipality announced Monday the start of the Lebanese Army’s deployment in the area and on Tuesday afternoon, the Lebanese Army confirmed in a post on X that its units “have begun to deploy in Ras Naqoura, Alma al-Shaab, Tayr Harfa [all Sour district] and Beit Lif [Bint Jbeil], as well as in other localities” in southern Lebanon, “following the Israeli withdrawal” from these positions.
According to a source from Civil Defense, upon entering Alma al-Shaab, the Lebanese Army recovered the bodies of five victims under the rubble left by Israeli attacks.
The army “continues its technical sweep to defuse and clear unexploded ordnance, open roads and remove rubble, in consultation with UNIFIL and the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee,” the statement reads. It warned people “not to approach the area and to respect the directives of the army units until the deployment is completed.”
The Naqoura municipality's Monday announcement stated that, “to facilitate the passage of army vehicles and logistical and technical teams, and in coordination with the concerned official authorities, the municipality will be responsible for notifying residents of the timing and plan for their return as soon as circumstances allow,” a statement read.
“A secure return will be exclusively under the supervision of the troops and Civil Defense after any potential dangers have been eliminated,” the municipality said, warning against “any return not coordinated with the concerned authorities.”
Israeli withdrawal and U.S. assurances
The withdrawal of Israeli troops from Naqoura marked the second significant redeployment after Khiam on Dec. 11, 2024. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, during his visit to Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday, referenced the withdrawal and reaffirmed that all Israeli forces would retreat beyond the Blue Line within the 60-day cease-fire period, set to end on Jan. 27.
Residents impatient to return
On Tuesday, fishermen from the coastal town visited the port to inspect their boats, accompanied by Lebanese soldiers and the municipal council president. Some vessels were reportedly found stranded against the port’s sidewalk and heavily damaged.
According to a correspondent, Lebanese employees from southern villages such as Rmeish and Alma al-Shaab, who work with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquartered in Naqoura, have already returned to their offices.
One Naqoura native, Jamal Hamza, who relocated to Ramadieh in the Sour district, expressed eagerness to return home. “It could take several days before we receive directives allowing us to return to the village,” he said.
“I know I will find my house destroyed, but just the idea of returning to the village fills me with joy,” he added.
