The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Tuesday evening the "necessity" of a total Israeli withdrawal "as soon as possible" from southern Lebanon, where it continues to occupy five positions, following the expiration of the deadline imposed in the cease-fire agreement.

"France notes that the Israeli army maintains a presence on five positions in Lebanese territory," the French ministry emphasized in a statement, adding: "It recalls the necessity of a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory, as soon as possible, in accordance with the provisions of the cease-fire agreement" between Hezbollah and Israel, concluded at the end of November 2024.

In southern Lebanon, where Israel has withdrawn the bulk of its troops in accordance with the truce agreement, residents have returned to their villages devastated by more than a year and a half of armed conflict.

"The Israeli army has withdrawn from all border villages except for five points," a Lebanese security source told AFP. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the retention of troops in five checkpoint positions.

Paris reiterates its proposal regarding UNIFIL

The agreement initially provided that Israel should complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, a deadline later extended to Feb. 18. The agreement also stipulated that the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers should be the only troops deployed in the area.

Paris "invites all parties to seize its proposal: UNIFIL, including the French contingent, could be deployed at these five positions in close proximity to the blue line to replace the Israeli armed forces and ensure the safety of the populations there," according to the ministry's text.

"Alongside the United States within the Mechanism [for cease-fire monitoring], France will continue to assume all the missions defined in the agreement of Nov. 26, 2024," the statement adds, "commending the redeployment of the Lebanese Army, in close coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)." According to the ministry, "this repositioning will allow the Lebanese Army to conduct demining operations and support the return of populations under the best security conditions."

Israel's war on Lebanon killed more than 4,000 people since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Health.