Israel ‘Occupies’ 5 ‘Strategic Sites’ In South Lebanon Post-Troop Pullout As Ceasefire Deadline Ends

Israeli troops withdrew from all but five points in south Lebanon on Tuesday, February 18, allowing displaced residents to return to border villages largely destroyed in more than a year of hostilities. Israel is "temporarily remaining in five strategic high points" in southern Lebanon, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday, the deadline for Israel to withdraw under a November 27 truce deal. Holding the locations was "necessary for our security," Saar added. "The entire village has been reduced to rubble. It's a disaster zone," said Alaa al-Zein, back in Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon after the delayed withdrawal deadline expired Tuesday morning under an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal. Unable to reach Kfar Kila by car because of the rubble and army restrictions, residents had parked at the entrance of the village and returned on foot. Many were returning to destroyed or heavily damaged homes, farmland and businesses after more than a year of clashes that included two months of all-out war that ended with a November 27 ceasefire. n18oc_world n18oc_crux