(Credit: Jaimee Lee Haddad
Having already extended its deadline for withdrawing from Lebanon once, Israel still failed to fully remove troops from Lebanese territory by Feb. 18. The day before, Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani announced that Israeli soldiers would remain at five "strategic" locations on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line chosen for their vantage points or proximity to towns in northern Israel.
"We must remain at these positions to protect Israeli citizens," Shoshani said, "ensure an orderly process, and transfer control to the Lebanese Army." He claimed the move was "in line" with the cease-fire agreement it signed with Lebanon (on behalf of Hezbollah) and that troops could stay "for months if necessary until it is clear there is no more Hezbollah activity south of the Litani [River]."
Lebanese authorities continue to push for the "total" withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory in accordance with the cease-fire terms, while American general Jasper Jeffers, chair of the cease-fire monitoring committee said on Friday that he was "confident" the Lebanese Army would control all "population centers" in southern Lebanon — offering no clarity on the positions Israel seeks to keep, seeing as they are largely on the outskirts of said "population centers."
So, where are these five points and what do we know about Israel's intended presence there?
Where are these five 'strategic sites'?
The Israeli army insists on occupying the following five locations:
• Labbouneh/Alma al-Shaab, in Sour district, with a view of the coastline and maritime area up to Sour to the west, as well as the border villages of the Sour district to the East. (This point is considered strategic both on land and at sea, and overlooks the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in Naqoura.)
• Jabal Blat, near Ramieh, in Bint Jbeil district, overlooking the southern coast from Sour to Naqoura, as well as the western sector's depth up to Tayr Harfa, also in the Sour district.
• Jal al-Deir, south of Aitaroun, Bint Jbeil district
• A recently established position along the Markaba-Houla road, in Marjayoun district
• Hamames Hill, near Khiam, also in Marjayoun district, overlooking the entire village of Khiam and the Hasbaya region up to Ibl al-Saqi.
Reports from L'Orient Today's correspondent on the ground in southern Lebanon indicate that the Israeli army has already started constructing enforcements and erecting roadblocks and embankments at these five sites.
According to the Israeli army, these points were chosen for their elevation, which provides "a wide view of the Lebanese territory" and their proximity to particular towns in northern Israel:
• Shlomi, opposite Labbounneh
• Shtoula and Zar'it, facing Jabal Blat
• Avivim and Malikiya, facing Jal al-Deir
• Margaliot, facing the position between Markaba and Houla
• Metoula, opposite Hamames Hill.
Shoshani also announced that additional posts will be established along the border inside Israeli territory.
Why does the Israeli army want to maintain these positions?
Shoshani justified the army's ongoing presence in Lebanon beyond the deadline as necessary to ensure Hezbollah has no military infrastructure and engages in no party activity south of the Litani, but this is in contradiction with another statement from the same spokesperson in which he claimed that Hezbollah's infrastructure was "completely destroyed" in all areas where Israeli troops had entered and operated on the ground, covering an area about five to eight kilometers from the border.
For how long?
"A stay of several months may be necessary," Shoshani said, until it becomes clear "there is no more Hezbollah activity south of the Litani."
How many Israeli soldiers will be deployed there?
Each outpost will be manned "by a company-sized force," a military unit representing a group of 100 to 250 soldiers.
According to the Jerusalem Post, which regularly supports positions favorable to Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the Israeli army will triple the number of soldiers deployed along the border with Lebanon compared to the beginning of the war and notes that these numbers could reach "several thousand soldiers, even between 10,000 and 15,000, depending on the circumstances." No further details were provided.
