The Lebanese army is quickly deploying in the western part of southern Lebanon, Army Radio reported Saturday afternoon, citing Lebanese reports.
הפריסה של צבא לבנון בגזרה המערבית בדרום לבנון מתקדמת יחסית במהירות בימים האחרונים, והיום מדווחים בלבנון שהצבא הלבנוני התפרס גם בראמיה ובמוקדים הסמוכים לעייתא א-שעב. בינתיים, נכון להיום ועפ״י הדיווחים העדכניים שיש בידינו, צבא לבנון כבר פרוס במוקדים הבאים בגזרה המערבית ובגזרה… pic.twitter.com/eU2m03vlwA
— דורון קדוש | Doron Kadosh (@Doron_Kadosh) January 11, 2025
Lebanon's army has reportedly deployed to Ramyeh and locations close to Ayta ash-Shab. They are also stationed near Naqoura, Alma ash-Shab, Tyre Harfa, and Aitaroun.
The IDF remains deployed in areas around A-Dhayra, Marwahin, Ayta ash-Shab, and Maroun el-Ras. However, the IDF has reportedly withdrawn from Ramyeh, which is approximately two kilometers from the Israeli communities of Shtula and Zar’it.
US special envoy Amos Hochstein told senior Lebanese officials that Washington is determined to oversee the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon by the end of the 60-day ceasefire period, which is on January 26, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported earlier in the day.
'An extreme act'
Yisrael Beytenu MK Avigdor Liberman said that an IDF withdrawal of southern Lebanon by that date would be "an abandonment of the northern residents and an extreme act of irresponsibility" in a post on X/Twitter.
נסיגה של צה”ל מדרום לבנון עד ה-26 בינואר תהיה הפקרה של תושבי הצפון וחוסר אחריות משווע.ברור לכולם שצבא לבנון לא יאסוף נשק מחיזבאללה, וחיזבאללה לא יוותר אפילו על כדור אחד. חייבים לייצר איזור חיץ בתוך לבנון כדי לשמור על ביטחונם של תושבי הצפון.
— אביגדור ליברמן (@AvigdorLiberman) January 11, 2025
"It is clear to everyone that the Lebanese army will not collect weapons from Hezbollah, and Hezbollah will not give up even a single bullet," Liberman stated.
"A buffer zone within Lebanon must be established to ensure the security of the northern residents," he concluded.
The Al-Akhbar report stated that Hochstein had conveyed this message in a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
He reportedly explained that he had secured "a detailed timeline for the withdrawal" following direct discussions with Israeli officials. Hochstein also emphasized that "January 26 will be the final date for Israeli forces in Lebanon."
Filling the IDF's void
The report also noted that Hochstein requested the Lebanese Armed Forces to strengthen their deployment in the region and enhance readiness to "fill the void" left by the Israeli exit.
Hochstein also highlighted the importance of transferring Hezbollah’s weapons south of the Litani River to the Lebanese army.