IDF again warns Lebanese civilians not to return to southern border villages

The IDF again warns Lebanese civilians against returning to villages in southern Lebanon, where troops are still deployed as a ceasefire deal has been extended by several weeks.

“Residents of Lebanon, as you know, the IDF has recently redeployed to various locations in southern Lebanon, per the ceasefire agreement, to gradually enable the effective deployment of the Lebanese army, and dismantling and removing the Hezbollah terror group, with its operatives and infrastructure, from southern Lebanon,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, says on X.

“I remind you that the agreement period has been extended and IDF forces are still deployed on the ground. The deployment process is taking place gradually and in some sectors, it is being postponed and requires more time to ensure that Hezbollah cannot re-establish its strength there,” he says.

“Hezbollah, as usual, puts its narrow interests above the interests of the Lebanese state and tries through its mouthpieces to heat up the situation, despite being the main reason for the destruction of the south,” Adraee says.

The IDF spokesman adds that “until further notice, all previously published instructions remain in effect,” and the military will update when it is safe to return to the border villages.