Israel says troops will stay in five locations across southern Lebanon

The Israeli military stated that despite Lebanese President Aoun's prior concerns about a complete withdrawal, Israeli forces would retain soldiers at five locations in southern Lebanon, exceeding the original withdrawal deadline. This move by the Israeli military has raised concerns about the fragility of the Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire agreement.

Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said on Monday that the five locations are strategically significant, providing favorable observation points or being located opposite Israeli northern communities. Shoshani told reporters, "We currently need to remain in these locations to defend Israeli citizens, ensure this process is completed, and eventually hand it over to the Lebanese Armed Forces." He added that this "temporary measure" has been approved by the US-led ceasefire monitoring body, which took effect at the end of November.

Lebanon had previously expressed concerns about Israel's failure to withdraw all its troops from the country by the agreed-upon deadline of Tuesday. Aoun said in a statement: "We are concerned that a complete withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow." He added: "Lebanon's response will be through a unified, comprehensive national position."

Recent events have further heightened tensions. A drone struck a car in the port city of Sidon, marking the deepest Israeli strike inside Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect on November 27. According to the Israeli military, the attack took place near a Lebanese army checkpoint, killing a Hamas official responsible for Hamas's operations department in Lebanon. Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr reported from the scene that "there are hardly any constraints on Israeli action."

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, an Israeli drone also dropped a grenade in the main square of the southern town of Kafr Shuba, and soldiers also set fire to houses in the border town of Odaisseh. Human Rights Watch's Ramzi Kaiss stated that "Israel's deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure" has made it "impossible for many residents to return home."

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, said he had learned from Washington that Israel would continue to occupy the five locations, but Lebanon refused to accept the plan. Al Jazeera correspondent Khodr reported on Monday: "What we are hearing from Lebanese officials is that Israel will withdraw from some villages but will continue to remain in strategic hilltop positions a few meters inside Lebanese territory." It is speculated that the positions Israel intends to maintain will provide military control over southern Lebanon.

Karim Bitar, a lecturer in Middle East studies at Sciences Po in Paris, said: "There seems to be a tacit, if not explicit, American agreement to extend the withdrawal deadline." This suggests the complexity and continued uncertainty of the situation in the region.