Israel Warns Lebanese Villages To Stay Empty Amid Fragile Ceasefire

The Israeli military has warned residents of 60 villages in southern Lebanon not to return, even as a ceasefire enters its third day following over a year of intense fighting with Hezbollah, the Shia armed group.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released a map delineating a buffer zone several miles deep, cautioning that anyone entering the area would be at risk. This territory stretches from the coastal village of Mansouri to Shebaa in the east.

The conflict has displaced more than a million Lebanese, primarily from the south, and forced tens of thousands of Israelis to leave their homes.

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The truce, brokered by the US and France, began on Wednesday but has already faced accusations of violations from both sides. On Thursday, the IDF reported artillery and airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, citing suspicious activity at a Hezbollah weapons facility and vehicle movements. Lebanon, meanwhile, accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire “multiple times” and said it was closely monitoring the situation.

A multinational monitoring group, comprising representatives from the US, France, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been established to oversee adherence to the ceasefire.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the truce could be “short-lived,” adding that he had instructed the IDF to prepare for “intensive war” should Hezbollah commit a “massive violation.”

Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces are to withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, coinciding with the deployment of the Lebanese army. No other armed groups are allowed to operate in the area.

The Lebanese army has also urged residents to refrain from returning to areas still occupied by Israeli forces until their withdrawal is complete.

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The recent escalation began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel. That attack, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, was met with a large-scale Israeli offensive in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties.

The Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 44,330 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the conflict began, while Lebanese health officials attribute 3,961 deaths and over 16,500 injuries to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s attacks in Israel have killed 31 soldiers and 45 civilians, while 45 Israeli soldiers have died in southern Lebanon operations.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in his first statement since the ceasefire, claimed the group had achieved a “great victory” by thwarting Israel’s goal of destroying it. While such assertions resonate with Hezbollah’s supporters, others highlight the devastating toll on human lives, property, and infrastructure in Lebanon.

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