Israeli troops kill two and wound 17 in southern Lebanon

Lebanese citizens shout slogans against Israel as they try to enter with Lebanese soldiers a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese village of Aitaroun, Lebanon, January 27, 2025.

Israeli troops have killed two people and wounded 17 in southern Lebanon during protests against their continued occupation of the area.

Monday’s killings occurred the day after 24 people died and more than 130 wounded when Israeli soldiers opened fire on protesters who had breached roadblocks set up along the border.

Under the terms of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on November 27, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah resistance fighters were to move north of the Litani river by Sunday.

The Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers deployed in several villages before the deadline, but Israeli troops remained in over a dozen villages.

The U.S. and Lebanon announced later on Sunday that the deadline for meeting the ceasefire terms had been extended to February 18.

In a pre-recorded speech broadcast on Monday, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said his group would not accept the extension of the ceasefire deadline, without addressing the fact that the Lebanese government had already done so.

“Israel has to withdraw because the 60 days are over,” Mr. Kassem said. “We won’t accept any excuses to extend one second or one day.

“Any delay in the withdrawal is the responsibility of the UN, the U.S., France, and Israel.”

Mr. Kassem also said his group had not violated the ceasefire terms and acknowledged that it had considered retaliating against Israeli air strikes but had been advised not to by the Lebanese authorities.

Many people entering border villages on Sunday discovered the bodies of their relatives. Israeli strikes have killed over 4,000 people during the war, but the Lebanese authorities do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their death toll.

Since the ceasefire began, Israel has conducted near-daily operations such as house demolitions, shelling and air strikes in southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violating ceasefire terms by attempting to move weapons.

Lebanon has, in turn, accused Israel of hundreds of ceasefire violations.

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Morning Star

Morning Star is the socialist daily newspaper published in Great Britain. Morning Star es el diario socialista publicado en Gran Bretaña.