22 Killed in Lebanon as Israeli Forces Fail to Withdraw by Deadline Amid Protests

Israeli forces fired on protesters in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 22 deaths and 124 injuries, according to Lebanese health officials. The casualties included six women and a Lebanese army soldier. Demonstrators, some waving Hezbollah flags, attempted to enter villages to protest Israel's failure to withdraw by the ceasefire deadline. The protests occurred in nearly 20 villages along the border.

The Israeli military attributed the protests to Hezbollah's influence. They stated that warning shots were fired to deter perceived threats. Several individuals near Israeli troops were detained for questioning. Meanwhile, Israel prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of altering the order of hostage releases.

Lebanese Leadership Responds

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun addressed the situation, emphasising Lebanon's sovereignty and urging residents to trust the Lebanese Armed Forces. He assured that he was actively pursuing solutions at high levels. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, aligned with Hezbollah, called for international intervention to compel Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories.

The Lebanese army reported escorting civilians into some border towns and advised residents to follow military instructions for their safety. An Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of inciting unrest to distract from its status in Lebanon and the Arab world.

UN Calls for Compliance

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL head Lt Gen Aroldo Lázaro urged both nations to adhere to the ceasefire agreement. They highlighted unmet timelines from the November Understanding and stressed that conditions were unsafe for citizens' return along the Blue Line.

UNIFIL warned that further violence could destabilise the fragile security situation and hinder stability efforts in Lebanon. They called for Israeli troop withdrawal, removal of unauthorised weapons south of the Litani River, Lebanese army redeployment in southern Lebanon, and safe civilian return on both sides of the Blue Line.

An AP team was stranded overnight at a UNIFIL base near Mays al-Jabal due to Israeli roadblocks. Journalists reported hearing gunfire and explosions while peacekeepers noted nearby protests. In Aita al Shaab village, families searched through debris for remnants of their homes.

Hussein Bajouk, a returning resident, expressed determination to rebuild despite destruction. He also speculated about former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's fate, believing he might still be alive despite reports of his death in an Israeli strike.

On the Israeli side, Orna Weinberg observed the conflict's impact on both communities from Manara kibbutz. She lamented the inability to protect children without causing harm on both sides, calling it a tragedy for all involved.

Currently, around 112,000 Lebanese remain displaced from over 1 million who fled during the conflict.