BEIRUT (Reuters) – The top of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah mentioned on Sunday that Israeli troops should withdraw from Lebanese territory in full by a February 18 deadline, saying it had “no pretext” to keep up a army presence in any put up in southern Lebanon.
Underneath a truce brokered by Washington in November, Israeli troops have been granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon the place that they had waged a floor offensive in opposition to fighters from Iran-backed Hezbollah since early October.
That deadline was later prolonged to February 18, however Israel’s army requested that it maintain troops in 5 posts in southern Lebanon, sources instructed Reuters final week.
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In a recorded televised speech, Hezbollah secretary common Naim Qassem mentioned: “Israel should withdraw fully on Feb. 18, it has no pretext, no 5 factors or different particulars… that is the settlement.”
Qassem mentioned any Israeli army presence on Lebanese soil after February 18 could be thought of an occupying drive.
“Everybody is aware of how an occupation is handled,” Qassem mentioned, with out explicitly threatening that his group would resume assaults in opposition to Israel.
Israel’s public broadcaster mentioned on Wednesday the U.S. had authorised a “long run” Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.
Through the broadcast of Qassem’s speech, not less than three Israeli air strikes hit Lebanon’s jap Bekaa Valley. Israel’s army mentioned it carried out strikes after figuring out Hezbollah exercise at websites containing rocket launchers and different weapons.
Qassem additionally referred to as on the Lebanese authorities to rethink its ban on Iranian flights touchdown in Beirut.
Lebanese authorities banned the flights from touchdown till February 18 following Israeli accusations that Tehran was utilizing civilian plane to smuggle money to Beirut to arm Hezbollah.
The choice stranded dozens of Lebanese nationals in Iran, the place that they had been on a non secular pilgrimage with plans to return through Iran’s Mahan Air. Lebanon despatched two of its personal planes to retrieve them, however Iran barred them from touchdown in Tehran.
Hezbollah organised a protest exterior Beirut airport on Saturday, the place its supporters have been tear gassed by Lebanese troops.
Qassem described Lebanon’s ban on Iranian planes as “the implementation of an Israeli order”.
“Let the airplane land and we are going to see what Israel will do,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Enhancing by Jan Harvey)
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