Israel says army retreating from Lebanon, but for 5 outposts

Israel said it was retreating from Lebanon by a Tuesday ceasefire deadline, but named five spots inside the country where soldiers would remain, drawing protest from the Lebanese government.

Most ground troops have already returned to Israel after handing over to the Lebanese Armed Forces, as per the truce deal agreed with militant group Hezbollah in November. Yet forces would remain in lookout positions across the border from northern Israeli communities of Shlomi, Zarit, Shtula, Avivim and Metula, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Nadav Shoshani said in a briefing on Monday.

“These are points that are very close to the border and have access in and out,” said Shoshani. He described the measure as reversible once Israel is reassured that its Lebanese counterpart is in full control.

“It is something we are committed to doing in the right way, in a gradual way, in a way that the security of our civilians is kept,” IDF’s spokesman said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has voiced opposition to the delayed withdrawal, at a time when he faces calls to dispel Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s legitimacy and reaffirm the government as the one holding the right to keep out foreign occupiers. Aoun’s government is the first to be elected in the country in more than two years.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said on Thursday that Israel would retain five strategic high points just inside Lebanon until truce commitments were completed. He did not detail a timeline for a full pull-out, but it was unlikely that disarming Hezbollah and preventing it building back up would be accomplished quickly.