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IDF Spokesperson/TPS-IL on 8 December, 2024
Israel Warns Lebanese Civilians to Avoid Border Villages Amid Ceasefire Extension
Jerusalem, 28 January, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday morning warned Lebanese civilians against returning to villages in southern Lebanon where its troops remain deployed following the extension of a 60-day ceasefire.
The truce, which was due to expire on Sunday, was extended until February 18. The move comes as Israel, Lebanon, and the U.S. prepare to initiate negotiations on the return of Lebanese prisoners captured by Israel. According to the White House’s announcement on Sunday, the US will mediate Israeli-Lebanese negotiations over the fate of Hezbollah terrorists captured by Israel. The White House did not indicate when the talks would begin.
Lt.-Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s chief Arabic-language spokesman tweeted instructions to Lebanese residents to heed warnings and stay away from the border areas.
“Residents of Lebanon, as you know, the IDF has recently redeployed to various locations in southern Lebanon, per the ceasefire agreement, to gradually enable the effective deployment of the Lebanese army, and dismantling and removing the Hezbollah terror group, with its operatives and infrastructure, from southern Lebanon,” Adraee tweeted.
He emphasized that the ceasefire’s extension means IDF forces will remain active in the area for the foreseeable future. “I remind you that the agreement period has been extended, and IDF forces are still deployed on the ground. The deployment process is taking place gradually, and in some sectors, it is being postponed and requires more time to ensure that Hezbollah cannot re-establish its strength there.”
Under the terms of a two-month ceasefire that went into effect on November 27, Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw its armed presence from areas of southern Lebanon south of the Litani River. Israeli forces are also supposed to complete their withdrawal by Sunday.
The Lebanese Armed Forces and monitors from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were supposed to deploy throughout southern Lebanon and along the 120 km border with Israel.
However, Israeli officials are dissatisfied Beirut’s inability to enforce the ceasefire in south Lebanese areas vacated by the Israel Defense Forces.
On Sunday, the UK Times newspaper reported that a senior member of the Lebanese Armed Forces intelligence leaked information to Hezbollah from inside a control room operated by the US, French and UN monitors.
