Israel said its intention was to prevent Hezbollah from posing a threat to residents of northern Israel, some 60,000 of whom were forced to leave their homes because of Hezbollah rocket fire.
The Israeli army confirmed Monday that its troops will withdraw from all Lebanese border villages, but retain five strategic positions in southern Lebanon beyond the Feb. 18 cease-fire deadline as authorized by the United States, according to Israeli websites. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed that the Lebanese Army was ready to deploy in all villages and towns from which the Israeli forces will withdraw at 10 a.m. local time Tuesday, but expressed fears that the Israeli pullout will not be complete.
An Israeli drone strike killed the head of Hamas’ military operation in Lebanon on Monday — as Israel announced it would keep troops in parts of southern Lebanon after the deadline to withdraw, military officials said. Mohammad Shaheen, the head of Hamas’ operations department in Lebanon, was killed while driving in Sidon, in the southern half of the country where the Israel Defense Forces are set to remain despite the cease-agreement with Hezbollah.
