The Hezbollah leader gave Israel a reprieve, otherwise an attack would begin

^{Photo: Anadolu}
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Israeli forces must withdraw completely from Lebanese territory by February 18, Al Arabiya reported.

He said there was "no excuse" for maintaining an Israeli military presence at any post in southern Lebanon. Under a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israeli forces were given 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The deadline was later extended to February 18, but the Israeli military has asked to keep troops at five posts in southern Lebanon.

"Israel must withdraw completely on February 18. No excuses or other details are needed... this is the agreement," said Naim Qassem.

He noted that any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after February 18 would be considered an occupation force.

He said that everyone knows how to deal with the occupation, and did not explicitly threaten that Hezbollah would continue its attacks on Israel.

According to Israeli television, the United States has authorized the presence of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon for an "extended period." As Qassem's statement was being broadcast, the Jewish air force struck Hezbollah military facilities. The Israeli army claimed that "terrorist activities at these facilities constitute a violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon."

The Lebanese government has banned Iranian aircraft from flying to Beirut. What's the problem?

Earlier, Israel said it was using Iranian civilian planes to send cash to Beirut to arm Hezbollah. As a result, the Lebanese government banned Iranian flights to Beirut until February 18.

The decision has left dozens of Lebanese citizens stranded in Iran, who had planned to return on Iran's Mahan Air. Lebanon sent two of its own planes to bring them back, but Iran has banned them from landing in Tehran.

Hezbollah staged a protest outside Beirut airport on February 15, and Lebanese soldiers fired tear gas at its supporters. Qassem called Lebanon's ban on Iranian planes "implementing an Israeli order."

Let the plane land and we'll see what Israel does, the Hezbollah leader said.

[b]Israel-Hezbollah Agreement

On November 27, 2024, after almost 14 months of continuous attacks between Israel and Lebanon, a ceasefire agreement proposed by the United States came into effect. Before ratifying the agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation and explained the need for a ceasefire on the northern front. He stressed that Israel would respond and resume hostilities if Hezbollah violated the truce.

According to the US-proposed agreement, the Lebanese army should occupy the southern territories of the country within 60 days, and Hezbollah forces and infrastructure should be transferred to the northern part of the Litani River, located 20-30 kilometers from the Israeli border. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”