The Israeli army blew up houses in Houla, southern Lebanon, on Feb. 12, 2025. (Photo sent by sources to L'Orient Today's correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)
With less than a week before the deadline set for the Israeli withdrawal from areas still occupied in south Lebanon, a fragile calm remains in the region Wednesday despite some incidents that occurred in the past two days.
In the village of Odaisseh (Marjayoun), the Israeli army set fire to several houses on Wednesday, residents reported to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region. Later in the day, Israeli artillery fired two shells near the village of Shebaa (Hasbaya). In the evening, the Israeli army blew up several houses in Houla, a village in the Marjayoun district, causing heavy explosions that were heard several kilometers away. The day before, an explosion wasn heard in Yaroun (Bint Jbeil). No deaths or injuries were reported on Wednesday.
In the evening, the Israeli army broke the sound barrier twice. The two loud detonations echoed in Beirut, its surroundings, and even beyond.
The Israeli army remained largely present in the border villages of the Marjayoun district (Blida, Markaba, Odaisseh, Houla, Kfar Kila, Wazzani, and the hill of Hamames), facing the Israeli region of the Galilee Finger, as well as in other strategically high villages: Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil), Jabal Blat, Labouneh (Sour) and the contested hills of Shebaa and Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya).
Moreover, the South Lebanon Water Authority announced in a statement that its teams are repairing and maintaining pumping and water distribution networks severely damaged by Israeli shelling in the districts of Sour and Bint Jbeil. The institution specified that these repairs are part of the emergency response to the needs of southern villages and towns after the return of displaced persons, following the cease-fire announced on Nov. 27, 2024.
The Lebanese presidency maintains its position
Along the same lines, Israel is said to have requested to maintain its presence at five strategic points along the border until Feb. 28, according to Israeli media. Under the cease-fire that ended on Nov. 27 the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah and was extended, Israeli forces are to withdraw from south Lebanon by Feb. 18. However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated Wednesday evening that Beirut still demands total Israeli withdrawal by Feb. 18.
The northern Lebanese-Syrian border – the site of clashes last Friday and Saturday between Lebanese clans close to Hezbollah, accused of smuggling activities, and the new Syrian security forces – regained its calm on Tuesday night and Wednesday. This respite occurred despite the anger of Lebanese clans following the death of MP Ghazi Zeaiter's nephew, who was kidnapped and then killed in Syria, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
Tribal sources from the northern Hermel region confirmed losing contact three days ago with two other Lebanese members of the Zeaiter family, originally from the town of Balouza (Hawiq), in Syrian territory. Their fate remains unknown. According to a source from the Zeaiter clan, these two Lebanese were allegedly kidnapped by the forces of the new Syrian authorities.
The same source claimed that one of them was in critical condition, a victim of torture and that the kidnapping was not intended to obtain a ransom but rather to pressure Lebanese clans to leave the villages they occupy in Syria along the border.
