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Israel Extends Occupation of Southern Lebanon

Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)
Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)
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Israel Extends Occupation of Southern Lebanon

Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)
Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)

The Israeli Army is seeking an extension to a Feb. 18 deadline to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, Israel's public broadcaster said on Wednesday, despite Beirut’s rejection and contacts made by the authorities with diplomatic missions to pressure Israel into completing its pullout by next Tuesday.

Israel said the United States has authorized it to remain at several points in Lebanon beyond the agreed date for its full withdrawal, public broadcaster Kan TV reported, citing senior cabinet officials.

However, the office of the Lebanese presidency dismissed media reports claiming that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, which falls at the end of March this year.

President Joseph Aoun “has repeatedly emphasized Lebanon’s insistence on the full withdrawal of the Israeli forces within the set deadline of Feb. 18,” his office said in a statement.

Israeli media revealed that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked US President Donald Trump to delay the withdrawal from Lebanon once again.”

Furthermore, it claimed that “Israel presented evidence to the Americans that the Lebanese army has not addressed Hezbollah's violations.”

Under a truce deal brokered by Washington in November, Israeli troops were granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon where they had waged a ground offensive against fighters from Hezbollah since early October.

The initial deadline has already been extended from January 26 until February 18.

A Lebanese official and a foreign diplomat in Lebanon told Reuters on Wednesday that Israel had now asked to remain in five posts in the south for a further 10 days.

Lately, Lebanon has been exerting pressure on Israel through diplomatic channels to respect the scheduled withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

On Wednesday, Aoun urged European Union countries to apply pressure on Israel to complete its withdrawal within the deadline set for Feb. 18.
Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese army is preparing to deploy, before the 18th of this month, in all villages where the Israeli occupation forces are currently stationed.

“The Lebanese state will reject any change of the ceasefire agreement,” the source said, adding that any extension to the Feb. 18 deadline is “unjustified.”

The source held the international committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agreement.

He refused to say what could happen if the occupation forces were to remain in southern Lebanon even one hour after the deadline.

But the source added: “The Lebanese army will implement any decision the government will take on the matter.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli forces continued to bomb houses in the villages they occupy in southern Lebanon, demolishing what remained of the structures. They have not yet removed their military positions as a prelude to their withdrawal.

Former Lebanese government coordinator to UNIFIL General Monir Shehadeh told Asharq Al-Awsat that if Israel does not withdraw on Feb. 18, Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will exert pressure on the sponsors of the ceasefire agreement, especially the United States and France.

On Monday, The Jerusalem Post wrote that the US conveyed to Israel that its forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon by Feb. 18, with no further extensions to the ceasefire being granted.

US National Security Council Spokesperson Brian Hughes told the newspaper that “Israel’s withdrawal remains on the existing timeline, and they did not request an extension.”

In case the Israeli forces refuse to respect the ceasefire agreement, Shehadeh said southern Lebanon might witness a popular rally like the one that happened at the end of the 60-day deadline. “Civilians will attempt to enter the occupied villages with bare chests,” he said.

As for Hezbollah’s reaction to any extension of the withdrawal, Shehadeh said: “The resistance (Hezbollah) might attack Israeli occupation positions inside Lebanese towns.”

However, he said, such decision would have negative consequences, including the return of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and the displacement of thousands of residents from their homes. “Hezbollah does not want this, unless it is dragged into a new war,” he said.

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Arab World

Houthis Deplete Motorcycle Market for Military Use

Yemenis on their motorcycles at a market in Sanaa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemenis on their motorcycles at a market in Sanaa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Houthis Deplete Motorcycle Market for Military Use

Yemenis on their motorcycles at a market in Sanaa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemenis on their motorcycles at a market in Sanaa (Asharq Al-Awsat)

As living conditions deteriorate and job opportunities shrink in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the group is stepping up purchases of motorcycles from markets in Sanaa and other cities for distribution to its militants on the front lines, driving up prices and making the vehicles increasingly unaffordable for young people who depend on them for their livelihoods.

Informed sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis had allocated funds to purchase hundreds of motorcycles over the past two weeks in Sanaa, Amran, Hodeidah, Dhamar and Ibb for use in military operations.

The sources said increased demand had pushed up prices and reduced supply, making it harder for residents, particularly workers and low-income young people, to purchase motorcycles and earn enough to support their families.

According to the sources, the move followed the group's failure to recruit a number of motorcycle owners and riders in Sanaa and other cities, prompting it to buy the vehicles directly from local markets and distribute them to its militants for use on the front lines.

The sources linked the intensified purchases to airstrikes targeting Houthi reinforcements and vehicles in recent weeks, as well as severe fuel shortages.

They said motorcycles allow militants to travel through ravines, dry riverbeds and rugged terrain that heavy military vehicles struggle to navigate. They are also used to transport militants and supplies to the front lines and evacuate the dead and wounded.

The use of motorcycles in combat operations is not new for the Houthis. The group has relied on them across several fronts throughout the years of war, taking advantage of their small size and maneuverability.

According to the sources, motorcycles continue to be used on the Taiz, Al-Dhalea and western coast fronts, while the Houthis seek to acquire additional vehicles to support their military movements.

New Competition for a Source of Livelihood

The Houthi purchases have created new competition for a vehicle that many residents consider an affordable means of earning a living, at a time when employment opportunities are dwindling and living costs are rising.

Residents of Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that motorcycles are more than a means of transportation. They represent an investment in small businesses and a direct source of income, whether through delivery services, transporting goods or commuting to work.

They warned that rising prices threaten to deprive more young people and workers of employment opportunities that depend on motorcycle ownership.

A motorcycle showroom owner in southern Sanaa said Houthi supervisors had purchased dozens of motorcycles from his business over the past two weeks.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, the owner said motorcycle prices ranged from 280,000 to 500,000 Yemeni rials per vehicle, depending on the model and specifications. The exchange rate imposed by the Houthis stands at approximately 530 rials to the US dollar.

He added that demand had increased in recent days as the group intensified efforts to supply its front-line forces.

The showroom owner said the surge in purchases had driven up prices and further weakened the ability of residents, particularly low-income young people, to acquire motorcycles and use them to support their families.

For many, he added, securing the initial capital needed to start even a small business has become increasingly difficult.

Arab World

Arab League Strongly Denounces Houthi Attacks on Dammam Airport, Shaybah Oil Field

Arab League Strongly Denounces Houthi Attacks on Dammam Airport, Shaybah Oil Field
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Arab League Strongly Denounces Houthi Attacks on Dammam Airport, Shaybah Oil Field

Arab League Strongly Denounces Houthi Attacks on Dammam Airport, Shaybah Oil Field

The Arab League strongly rejected the attacks launched by the Houthi militia targeting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and the Shaybah oil field in Eastern Region, which resulted in casualties, injuries, and material damage to the targeted facilities.

In a statement issued today, the Arab League affirmed its categorical rejection of continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, describing them as a violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to its security, stability, and the safety of citizens and residents, SPA reported.

The league stressed that the repeated targeting of airports, oil facilities, and civilian infrastructure constitutes a highly dangerous escalation threatening civil aviation safety and energy security.

Reiterating its full solidarity with the Kingdom, the Arab League affirmed its support for all measures taken to safeguard Saudi security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that the Kingdom's security is an integral part of collective Arab security.

It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to halt these attacks and prevent their recurrence, extending sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Arab World

Gaza's Education System Could Take Seven Years to Recover

Palestinian students attend their first day of the new school year in a makeshift classroom inside a tent at a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on September 19 (Reuters)
Palestinian students attend their first day of the new school year in a makeshift classroom inside a tent at a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on September 19 (Reuters)
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Gaza's Education System Could Take Seven Years to Recover

Palestinian students attend their first day of the new school year in a makeshift classroom inside a tent at a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on September 19 (Reuters)
Palestinian students attend their first day of the new school year in a makeshift classroom inside a tent at a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on September 19 (Reuters)

Julia Dicum, Director of Education at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has warned that Gaza's education system could take up to seven years to recover, according to research projections, following years of disruption and military operations that have deprived children of a normal school life.

"When we opened the school year in September this year, we met children who should have been in third grade but were entering a school building for the first time," Dicum told Asharq Al-Awsat in an exclusive interview.

Some children in the final years of primary school have received no more than one full academic year of in-person education because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the past three years of war.

Their learning gaps have been compounded by "the psychological trauma of loss and living under constant fear of bombardment and uncertainty," Dicum said.

Years of Accumulated Learning Gaps

Research conducted by the University of Cambridge, the Centre for Lebanese Studies and UNRWA projected that cumulative disruptions could leave children as much as five years behind in their educational progress.

That estimate was made more than a year ago, and Dicum believes the extent of the learning loss is likely to be even greater now.

As educational disruptions continue, she warned: "The longer this disruption continues, the wider the learning gaps become, and the greater the risk that children will drop out of education permanently."

Maintaining children's connection to structured, recognized education is therefore among UNRWA's highest priorities, alongside establishing the resources, capacity and conditions needed for a transition to safe and sustainable formal schooling.

A Return Far From the Normal School Day

At the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, more than 200,000 children in Gaza remained without access to structured learning, according to estimates provided by Dicum.

Meanwhile, the Education Cluster reported in September 2026 that 495,680 learners were attending 687 learning spaces operated by humanitarian response partners.

The Education Cluster is a coordination mechanism for humanitarian organizations working in education in Gaza, helping organize responses to emergency learning needs.

However, access to a learning space does not mean a return to a normal school day.

Many children who have resumed learning receive far fewer instructional hours than usual, amid overcrowding, shortages of school supplies and damaged buildings or temporary facilities lacking adequate water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Displacement and the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war add to these challenges.

"Gaza is still far from a return to regular, full-time schooling for all girls and boys," Dicum said.

Restrictions on the entry of educational supplies and construction materials also hinder debris removal, repairs and reconstruction, preventing a return to normal educational activities.

Under these circumstances, instruction has been reduced to four core subjects: Arabic, English, mathematics and science, alongside expanded mental health and psychosocial support services.

Universities and technical and vocational education and training institutions have also suffered extensive damage and are offering modified forms of learning.

Unaccredited Programs Threaten Educational Progression

The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Education and Higher Education has approved programs using educational materials aligned with the Palestinian curriculum, including UNRWA's distance-learning program.

However, many other initiatives provide informal, unaccredited learning experiences.

Dicum warned that these programs would not enable the current generation to access higher education on a broad scale.

"The challenge is no longer simply to return children to some form of learning, but to restore quality, sustainable and accredited education that allows children to learn, progress and acquire the skills that will give them a future built on recovery and hope," she said.

From Emergency Shelters to Learning Spaces

UNRWA's educational response began in October 2023 with mental health and psychosocial support services for children in its emergency shelters.

In early 2024, the agency developed flexible self-learning materials in core subjects, aligned with United Nations values and standards.

It then began establishing temporary learning spaces in the summer of that year.

By late 2024, UNRWA had launched an accredited distance-learning program, seeking wherever possible to reconnect students with the teachers and classmates they had been assigned to in August 2023.

By the end of September 2026, the agency was operating approximately 84 temporary learning spaces across Gaza, reaching nearly 100,000 learners.

It was also providing structured distance education to around 280,000 students in grades one through nine, according to figures supplied by Dicum.

For comparison, UNRWA educated approximately 300,000 students in grades one through nine during the 2022-2023 academic year.

That represented half of all students enrolled in grades one through 12 across Gaza, with the other half attending Palestinian Authority schools and a small number of private schools.

Current in-person instruction takes place in tents and some classrooms inside UNRWA schools.

Families have helped prepare these spaces for learning, sometimes moving their belongings aside each day so teachers can conduct lessons.

Dicum said cooperation between Gaza's communities and UNRWA has developed to the point where "the local community returned three school buildings to UNRWA for use in full-time education during 2026."

"This reflects the importance Gaza's communities attach to education and the contribution they are making to restoring it," she added.

Efforts to resume education have also extended to technical and vocational training for Palestine refugee youth aged 16 to 18.

The initial focus was on helping students who had enrolled at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year complete their training and obtain their qualifications through blended and online learning.

In September 2026, UNRWA enrolled students in two-year courses and began planning shorter vocational programs, particularly in skills that could contribute to recovery.

Dicum noted that this type of training is not usually part of an emergency response.

Making Up for Lost Learning Starts With Each Child's Level

Returning to learning offers an opportunity to prevent educational gaps from widening further.

However, making up for years of disrupted schooling requires identifying what each child can actually do and providing support appropriate to their current level.

"Educational recovery is possible, but there is no quick way to make up for years of disrupted education," Dicum said.

The process begins with reading, writing and numeracy, assessing individual learning levels, providing adapted educational materials and ensuring continued support from teachers.

Recovery also depends on the broader conditions in which children live and attempt to study, as well as their ability to receive sufficient and regular instructional time.

Dicum outlined the immediate priority: "What matters now is preventing further learning loss and giving children a reliable pathway back to sustainable, quality education."

Funding and the Continuity of Learning Opportunities

UNRWA currently faces a major challenge in the form of its financial crisis, which could hamper its ability to maintain and expand its educational response.

Sustaining existing programs and preparing for a return to formal schooling when conditions permit require consistent resources that allow for long-term planning.

Dicum concluded by emphasizing that "sustainable, regular and predictable funding" is essential to preserving learning opportunities and supporting the return to safe, adequately resourced formal education.