The Lebanese army has entered the strategic southern town of Khiam as part of a ceasefire agreement, after UN peacekeepers confirmed Israel's withdrawal from several positions. Despite this, Israeli attacks continued, killing three people on Wednesday.
In a statement, the army said its units had deployed at five sites around Khiam and Marjayoun in coordination with UNIFIL, following talks by a five-nation oversight committee. The statement added that the deployment will expand, with teams working to clear unexploded ordnance in the area.
The Lebanese army urged residents to stay away from the area and follow military instructions until the deployment is complete.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel’s slow withdrawal is delaying the Lebanese army’s deployment in Khiam, accusing Israel of stalling despite promising to pull out a week ago.
On Wednesday morning, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a UNIFIL engineering team entered Khiam from the north to verify Israel’s withdrawal.
By the afternoon, the Lebanese army’s Seventh Brigade, with UNIFIL support, began clearing roads and removing unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces in the area.
This marked an important test of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel's military confirmed this was the first town it has turned over to the Lebanese army under the truce.
Israeli violations continued, however, with forces demolishing a house in Naqoura and drones striking the Safarjal area near Majdal Zoun, accompanied by artillery and gunfire.
Later, three people were killed in Bint Jbeil when an Israeli drone fired a missile at the al-Owaini neighborhood. Israeli troops near Maroun al-Ras also opened heavy machine-gun fire on the town.
