A Lebanese official said Israeli troops had started withdrawing Monday from some border villages, after Israel's military said it would remain in five "strategic points" hours before a ceasefire deadline to pull out. "Israeli forces are beginning to withdraw from border villages, including Mays al-Jabal and Blida, as the Lebanese army advances," the security official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
According to the military Israeli radio, all Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border has been destroyed. However, Tel Aviv will maintain troops in five strategic points. Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani earlier said that "based on the current situation, we will leave small amounts of troops deployed temporarily in five strategic points along the border in Lebanon".
He said the decision came "so we can continue to defend our residents and to make sure there's no immediate threat".
Israel had been due to finalize its withdrawal by Tuesday, February 18, after it missed a January deadline. "We are afraid that a complete withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow," President Joseph Aoun said ahead of the Israeli military's announcement.
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