A Lebanese soldier in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, on Jan. 7, 2025. ((Credit: AFP Photo)
The Lebanese Army began deploying in the village of Tayr Harfa (Sour district) on Saturday around noon, the village’s moukhtar (local official), Hassan Haidar, told L’Orient-Le Jour. "The army is clearing roads and will maintain a presence at the entrances and inside the village," Haidar said to our correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah.
In a post on X in the afternoon, the Lebanese Army announced that its units were continuing their deployment in the towns of Ras Naqoura (Sour district) and the following villages in the western sector: Alma al-Shaab, Dhaira, Aitaroun, Bint Jbeil, Tayr Harfa, Majdal Zoun, Salhani and Kaouzah, following the Israeli withdrawal.
"Army units are working to strengthen their positions and secure key points, in coordination with UNIFIL and the committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement," the statement added.
In this context, specialized units are continuing their efforts to clear the region of unexploded ordnance, open roads, and remove debris, according to the Lebanese Army statement, which urged citizens to stay away from the area and follow military instructions until the deployment is complete.
Meanwhile, Civil Defense rescue teams traveled to Naqoura (Sour district) on Saturday to retrieve bodies from the rubble of buildings hit by Israeli shelling, according to a source within the organization. Earlier in the day, Civil Defense teams had recovered the remains of three people from the rubble in Khiam (Marjayoun district), the same source reported.
Israeli violations
In the afternoon, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on Lebanese citizens moving furniture from one house to another in Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil district), southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to our correspondent, no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, an Israeli bulldozer carried out sweeping operations near a Lebanese army center in the village of Hamra, in the Nabatieh district.
Despite a 60-day cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel that took effect on Nov. 27, following more than a year of conflict, the Israeli army continues to carry out operations in southern Lebanon, including detonating homes and occupying parts of the region.
