MAYS AL-JABAL, Lebanon — On Saturday, Israeli military forces established various roadblocks throughout border towns and strategic routes in a valley in southern Lebanon, just one day before a deadline to withdraw from the area as per a ceasefire agreement with the Hezbollah militant organization.
Despite the deadline approaching, the Israeli military stated that it would not fulfill its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Sunday as previously outlined in the truce. This ceasefire, which commenced in late November, permitted both parties 60 days to pull back their forces from the region, allowing the Lebanese army to secure the area alongside U.N. peacekeeping forces. Israel claims that Hezbollah and the Lebanese military have failed to meet their commitments, while Lebanon contends that the Israeli army is obstructing the deployment of the Lebanese forces.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Israeli military described the withdrawal process as ongoing, yet noted that in some situations it has been delayed and will require additional time. The Lebanese military, in turn, reported that it has been deploying in areas vacated by Israeli troops and accused them of “procrastinating” on their withdrawal from other locations.
Support for an extended withdrawal period seems to be coming from Washington. While Lebanese army units are scattered throughout the western segment of southern Lebanon, Israeli forces continue to maintain their presence in most of the southeastern region.
Members of the U.N. peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, observed that Israeli tanks and bulldozers have unexpectedly moved in and set up numerous roadblocks, likely aimed at preventing displaced Lebanese individuals from returning to their homes. In Mays al-Jabal, peacekeepers from a Nepalese battalion witnessed Israeli aircraft overhead after hearing what they identified as an Israeli-led demolition of a building.
The town has no remaining residents, with most structures reduced to rubble or severely damaged due to intense Israeli bombardment and airstrikes, followed by clashes during Israel’s ground invasion. Those buildings that remain often have their walls blown out, and the roadways are littered with debris, creating significant barriers for civilian vehicles attempting to access what was once a thriving community.
Similar devastation is evident in nearby towns like Blida and Aitaroun, where nearly all structures have crumbled into heaps of debris, and no residents have returned. Peacekeepers attempted to seek permission to cross the roadblocks but were denied entry, which left an AP crew accompanying UNIFIL unable to proceed on their patrol.
“There is still significant IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) activity taking place in the area,” remarked Maj. Dinesh Bhandari of UNIFIL’s Nepalese battalion, as they observed the situation from Mays al-Jabal, overlooking the U.N.-mandated Blue Line. He mentioned the potential need for coordination before supporting the deployment of the Lebanese army in that region.
When questioned about the presence of weapons belonging to Hezbollah, Bhandari confirmed that they had discovered stockpiles of weapons, munitions, and mines in certain structures during their patrols.
Israel asserts that it has targeted and dismantled the remaining infrastructures associated with the Hezbollah militant organization, which holds significant military and political power in southern Lebanon. Following its ground incursion, Israel has also focused on eliminating a tunnel network and has conducted substantial demolitions of buildings in several border towns.
Lebanese officials have expressed concerns that the Israeli military is also targeting civilian homes and critical infrastructure. In a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun brought attention to the “destruction of villages adjacent to the southern border and the bulldozing of lands,” which he claimed would impede the return of residents to their homes, as reported by the state-run National News Agency. France and the U.S. are both parties that guarantee the ceasefire agreement.
Approximately 112,000 Lebanese individuals remain displaced, down from over 1 million who were forced to flee during the recent conflict. Significant portions of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut, have suffered extensive damage due to Israeli airstrikes.
