Israel is intending not to withdraw from several areas in southern Lebanon which might ignite the war with Hezbollah again!

Israeli media reported that the Israeli army won’t withdraw from 5 to 7 strategic sites in southern Lebanon, under the pretext of ensuring the security of settlers in the north amid ongoing tensions on the border.

This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House last week, to postpone the Israeli army’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon for several additional weeks.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Israel has provided evidence to the US side that the Lebanese army isn’t imposing effective restrictions on Hezbollah’s movements, which could allow the Hezbollah’s fighters to quickly return to the border areas.

Estimates in Israel indicate that Washington may agree to extend the period of the Israeli military presence to prevent the strengthening of Hezbollah’s influence in the border areas, in light of fears of the collapse of the ceasefire agreement.

An Israeli report stated that the US administration informed Israel of the necessity of completing the Israeli army’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon by February 18, which is the deadline that was previously extended within the ceasefire agreement.

However, Israel is still negotiating with the US side in an attempt to obtain better understandings and results regarding the situation in southern Lebanon after the withdrawal.

Washington estimates that the Lebanese army has deployed sufficiently in the border areas, and is expected to be fully deployed by the scheduled date.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army is expected to continue withdrawing from additional areas in southern Lebanon in the coming days.

In response to the report, the US National Security Council spokesman stated that Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon remains on schedule, and claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government hasn’t requested any extension of the withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Earlier, the Lebanese army completed its deployment in several towns in the south of the country, after the Israeli army withdrew from them.

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, the Lebanese army has completed its deployment in several towns in the south after the Israeli army withdrew from them.

The Lebanese army deployed patrols and began removing earthen barriers and rubble, and began searching for bombs and unexploded ordnance in the area.

The municipalities of the three towns called on citizens to abide by the army’s instructions and not to enter them until they are safe and free of explosives.

Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire has prevailed, ending the mutual shelling between the Israeli army and Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023, and turned into a large-scale Israeli war on Lebanon on September 23.

Under the pretext of confronting Hezbollah threats, the Israeli army committed hundreds of violations of the ceasefire agreement, resulting in 73 killed and 265 wounded.

The agreement included a 60-day deadline during which Israel would withdraw from the towns it occupied in southern Lebanon during the war.