The Lebanese army in Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon on 4 February, 2025 [Getty]
Israel is preparing to withdraw its troops from Lebanon by the agreed deadline, a senior Israeli security official said Friday, potentially ending the ongoing standoff with the Lebanese government.
“We are still deployed in accordance with the US monitored agreement and we are working closely with the US to make sure that handing over responsibility to the Lebanese army will happen within the timeline,” the official told Reuters.
The comments could signify an end to the current tension between the two countries, triggered by Israel earlier this week when it suggested it would not pull out of the country by the agreed date.
Israel has asked the committee overseeing the ceasefire for permission to keep its troops in at least five locations until 28 February – 10 days past the agreed deadline.
The deadline has already been extended once from 26 January at the request of the Israelis.
Lebanese political leaders including President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri have insisted that Israeli troops leave all parts of the country by 18 February as agreed last month.
The Israeli official did not comment on whether troops would also withdraw from the five locations.
The US has reportedly denied an Israeli request to leave most of its troops in Lebanon but could authorise it maintain a “long term” presence in several locations in the country’s south.
The official’s comments came hours after Israeli warplanes struck several targets in the south of the country.
The Israeli military alleged it had hit missile platforms and combat equipment belonging to Hezbollah and accused it of committing a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
Lebanese state media reported a number of air raids in several different locations in south Lebanon.
No deaths or injuries were reported in the bombings.
US envoy Morgan Ortagus is expected to return to the country on Sunday to discuss the ceasefire.
Ortagus caused a stir on her first visit to the country last week after she praised Israeli attacks on Lebanon and threatened Lebanese leaders over Hezbollah’s involvement in government from the podium at the presidential palace.
Israel has continued raiding targets across Lebanon since the signing of the ceasefire agreement. Lebanon has accused it of violating the truce hundreds of times.
Lebanon and Iran in tit-for-tat plane spat
Iran on Thursday prevented two Middle East Airlines flights from landing in Tehran, hours after the Lebanese government blocked two Iranian planes from Beirut airport.
Iranian authorities said the decision was made because the airline – rather than Lebanon’s foreign ministry – made the request to land, according to reports in Arab media.
Negotiations between the two countries to settle the dispute are underway, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said today.
Earlier, Lebanon’s transport ministry had refused to give permission to two flights operated by Iran’s Mahan Airlines to land at Beirut International Airport. An airport official didn’t explain the reason for the decision but said both had been delayed to next week.
The decision triggered protests by Hezbollah supporters in the Lebanese capital on Thursday night, where they blocked the Beirut airport road for several hours.
The move came a day after Israel accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guards of using civilian flights heading to Beirut airport to send money to Hezbollah and help it rearm.
Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have repeatedly denied that the airport is used to smuggle illicit money and arms from Iran.
Hezbollah condemned the decision to block the planes from landing and accused Israel of meddling in the country.
“The insistence of the Zionist enemy in violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and the support of the international community, especially the US, has caused the enemy to continue to expand and diversify its violations,” it said in a statement Thursday.
