The United Nations warned on Tuesday that any delay in Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which served as the basis for the ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27.
The Israeli military has made it clear that it will only withdraw from certain positions in southern Lebanon if there is concrete evidence that Hezbollah militants have also pulled back © TOL
The United Nations warned on Tuesday that any delay in Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which served as the basis for the ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27.
In a joint statement, the UN envoy to Lebanon and UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) stressed:
“Today marks the deadline for the withdrawal of the Israeli army and the parallel deployment of Lebanese armed forces in positions across southern Lebanon.”
“Another delay in this process is not what we had hoped for, especially as it continues to violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”
However, such a statement seems almost laughable, given that since 2006, the UN has done nothing to prevent Hezbollah from transforming the border region into a heavily fortified military zone.
In this context, Israel is exercising legitimate caution. While the UN criticizes the Israeli withdrawal, it conveniently ignores Hezbollah’s entrenchment in the area, where the Iranian-backed group has stockpiled advanced weaponry and built underground military infrastructure—all in direct violation of the same Resolution 1701.
The Israeli military has made it clear that it will only withdraw from certain positions in southern Lebanon if there is concrete evidence that Hezbollah militants have also pulled back. Without such assurances, Israel risks ceding territory to an armed force that has repeatedly called for its destruction.
While the UN continues to issue empty warnings, the reality on the ground remains unchanged: Hezbollah, not Israel, is the true violator of Resolution 1701—and yet, the international community remains silent.
By Philippe Tanios
The Israeli military said it had begun targeted strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to a "Hezbollah violation", a day after the latest round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon took place in Rome.
The latest round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon began on Tuesday in Rome and will continue through Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Iran is betting it can outlast Washington by turning the Middle East's trade routes, shipping lanes and energy infrastructure into pressure points that steadily raise the cost of confrontation, according to Gulf officials and analysts.
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