Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers fired warning shots at people trying to approach several villages in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, after Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered “forceful measures” to prevent Hezbollah members from returning while the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon is being implemented.
According to the IDF, several suspects came under fire in Meiss al-Jabal and said they had switched their focus from active combat in Lebanon to enforcing the agreement. The military said it was working to keep people out of areas where troops remain in southern Lebanon, and several routes to villages were blocked.
Israeli Air Force planes are still patrolling the skies and troops are still in positions in southern Lebanon. Overall calm seems to be holding, with rocket and drone attacks on Israel halted since early morning.
Earlier, the IDF said it fired warning shots at several vehicles in Lebanon that approached an area on the border where traffic is still prohibited. According to local authorities, the incident took place in the village of Kafr Kila, located on the other side of the border from the Israeli town of Metula. According to the IDF, the vehicles left after warning shots were fired.
The IDF has 60 days to withdraw under the agreement, which ended 14 months of fighting. During that time, the Lebanese army will gradually assume responsibility for southern Lebanon and an American-led committee will be set up to address complaints about possible ceasefire violations, the IDF said.
Hezbollah forces will leave southern Lebanon and its military infrastructure will be dismantled. The US also reportedly provided an additional letter outlining Israel’s rights to retaliate if the ceasefire is violated.
A copy of the ceasefire agreement was not made public before it went into effect. An Israeli security official said Israeli troops remained in their positions hours after the truce began and would withdraw only gradually.
He also said the pace of the withdrawal and the planned return of Lebanese civilians to their homes will depend on the extent to which the agreement is honoured and respected by all sides. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the deal and its implementation with the media.
Both Israel and the Lebanese army have warned residents of southern villages to wait for IDF troops to withdraw before returning.
Katz said Hezbollah members should be prevented from reaching areas of southern Lebanon where the IDF still bans movement, “and if they endanger IDF troops, they should be beaten.”
People are returning to the areas
Despite the danger, several videos were uploaded this morning showing people returning to the areas.
A short video taken by a Lebanese man who claims to have returned to Kafr Kila shows widespread destruction, but no Israeli military personnel are seen. Another video posted on social media shows the Lebanese reaching the border wall between Kafr Kila and the Israeli community of Metula.
Live television footage shows people walking in the town of Khiam, in close proximity to an IDF tank.
On the highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, thousands of people travelled south with belongings and mattresses tied to their cars. Traffic was blocked at the northern entrance to the port city of Sidon.
“This is a moment of victory, pride, and honor for us, the Shiite sect, and for all of Lebanon,” said Hussein Sweidan, a resident returning to the port city of Tyre. He said he viewed the ceasefire as a victory for Hezbollah.
Rare celebratory gunshots were heard at the city’s main roundabout, returning people honked their cars and residents cheered.
Lebanon’s interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, called on Israel to fully respect the ceasefire and “withdraw from all occupied territories and positions.” “I hope this will be a new page for Lebanon, I hope the coming days will lead to the election of a president,” Mikati said.
