Israel must withdraw fully from Lebanon by Feb 18: Hezbollah chief
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Israel’s public broadcaster said on Feb 11 that the US had authorised a “long-term” Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.
PHOTO: AFP
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BEIRUT – The head of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Feb 16 that Israeli troops must withdraw from Lebanese territory in full by a Feb 18 deadline, saying Israel had “no pretext” to maintain a military presence in any post in southern Lebanon.
Under a truce brokered by Washington in November 2024, Israeli troops were granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where they had waged a ground offensive against fighters from Iran-backed Hezbollah since early October.
That deadline was later extended to Feb 18, but Israel’s military requested to keep troops in five posts in southern Lebanon,
In a recorded televised speech, Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem said: “Israel must withdraw completely on Feb 18, it has no pretext, no five points or other details... this is the agreement.”
He said any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after Feb 18 would be considered an occupying force. “Everyone knows how an occupation is dealt with,” Mr Qassem said, without explicitly threatening that his group would resume attacks against Israel.
Israel’s public broadcaster said on Feb 11 that the US had authorised a “long-term” Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.
During the broadcast of Mr Qassem’s speech, at least three Israeli air strikes hit Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. Israel’s military said it conducted strikes after identifying Hezbollah activity at sites containing rocket launchers and other weapons.
Mr Qassem also called on the Lebanese government to reconsider its ban on Iranian flights landing in Beirut. Lebanese authorities banned the flights from landing until Feb 18 following Israeli accusations that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm Hezbollah.
The decision stranded dozens of Lebanese nationals in Iran, where they had been on a religious pilgrimage with plans to return via Iran’s Mahan Air. Lebanon sent two of its own planes to retrieve them, but Iran barred them from landing in Tehran.
Hezbollah organised a protest outside Beirut airport on Feb 15, where its supporters were tear-gassed by Lebanese troops.
Mr Qassem described Lebanon’s ban on Iranian planes as “the implementation of an Israeli order”.
He said: “Let the plane land, and we will see what Israel will do.” REUTERS
