
Lebanese soldiers patrol along a residential area that was devastated by Israeli bombardment, in the southern coastal town of Naqoura, on the border with Israel on Jan. 22, 2025. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah "will not accept any violation" of the cease-fire agreement with Israel, the party said in a statement released on Thursday.
There is much uncertainty among diplomatic circles regarding Israel's ability and willingness to adhere to the terms outlined in the agreement, which dictates that its army must be completely withdrawn over the Blue Line that demarcates Lebanese territory by Jan. 26. Israeli troops, however, continue to occupy and advance into eastern and central sectors along the border.
In early January, the Israeli army radio reported that Israel was expected to inform the U.S. it would remain on Lebanese territory after the 60-day period, and in late-December, sources in the Israeli army told Haaretz the same thing — that its troops would stay in southern Lebanon, hinging on whether the Lebanese Army "meets its obligations" of replacing Hezbollah there.
In its Thursday statement, Hezbollah said that any violation of the agreement is "a continued violation of Lebanese sovereignty." The Israeli army has killed over 40 people since the cease-fire was implemented, and, according to a source close to the cease-fire monitoring committee, has violated the terms more than 800 times. The Israeli army continues to advance in southern Lebanon, detonating houses, laying waste to villages, and launching drone, tank and air strikes.
Hezbollah said these violations must be must be dealt with "by the state using all means and methods guaranteed by international conventions ... to reclaim the land," and warned that with the 60-day deadline approaching, "some leaks that talk about the enemy postponing its withdrawal and staying longer in Lebanon require everyone, especially the political authority in Lebanon, to act effectively and keep pace with the last days of the deadline."
Active players in the deal's implementation, Hezbollah said, should work to "ensure the implementation of the full withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to the last inch of Lebanese territory and the rapid return of people to their villages, and not to give way to any pretexts or excuses to prolong the occupation," the statement reads.
"While we will follow the developments of the situation, which are supposed to culminate in a complete withdrawal in the coming days, we will not accept any violation of the agreement and commitments, and any attempt to evade them under flimsy pretexts," the statement concludes. "We call for strict adherence to the agreement without any concessions."