Military Space News
WAR REPORT
Hezbollah chief says Lebanon must ensure Israeli withdrawal
Hezbollah chief says Lebanon must ensure Israeli withdrawal
by AFP Staff Writers
Beirut, Lebanon (AFP) Feb 16, 2025

Hezbollah's chief said Sunday it was the government's responsibility to ensure the Israeli army withdraws from Lebanon by a looming ceasefire deadline, as Israel carried out air strikes in the country.

The developments came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem, called on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah following its recent war with Washington's closest regional ally Israel.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), meanwhile, reported Israeli forces opened fire towards the southern border town of Hula "after residents entered", killing a woman.

The violence followed unrest this week over the government's decision to block Iranian flights, which saw a UN peacekeeper convoy attacked during a protest.

"Israel must fully withdraw on February 18, it has no excuse," Hezbollah's Naim Qassem said in a televised address.

"It is the responsibility of the Lebanese state" to exert every effort "to make Israel withdraw", he added.

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group has been in effect since November 27 after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war.

Under the deal, Lebanon's military was to deploy in the south alongside United Nations peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period that was later extended to February 18.

Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Both sides have accused the other of violations.

NNA also reported on Sunday three Israeli air strikes in the eastern Bekaa Valley.

The Israeli military said it conducted air strikes targeting Hezbollah military sites storing weapons including rocket launchers in Lebanon, without specifying where.

- 'Must be disarmed' -

During a joint address with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, top US diplomat Rubio said that "in the case of Lebanon, our goals are aligned... A strong Lebanese state that can take on and disarm Hezbollah".

Netanyahu said Israel would do what it has to in order to "enforce" the ceasefire.

"Hezbollah must be disarmed. And Israel would prefer that the Lebanese army do that job, but no one should doubt that Israel will do what it has to do to enforce the understandings of the ceasefire and defend our security," Netanyahu said.

Hezbollah was left weakened by the war, which saw a slew of senior commanders and even its longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah killed in Israeli strikes.

Qassem called for broad participation in Nasrallah's funeral, set for next Sunday, as a show of the group's strength.

Protests erupted this week when authorities blocked Iranian planes from landing in Beirut, and a UN convoy was attacked near Beirut airport during a protest involving Hezbollah supporters, wounding two peacekeepers.

Qassem said that the prime minister's office had been informed "that Israel will strike the Beirut airport runway if the Iranian plane lands".

Israel's military warned this week that Iran's Quds Force and Hezbollah were using civilian flights to smuggle money for re-arming the Lebanese group.

Israel has previously accused Hezbollah of using Beirut's airport to transport Iranian weapons, allegations the group and the Lebanese authorities deny.

- 'Gravely mistaken' -

"The prime minister decided to prevent it under the banner of aviation and civilian safety... The problem is that this is implementing an Israeli order," Qassem added.

A Lebanese source told AFP on Saturday that Lebanon had denied permission for Iranian flights to land twice this week, after the United States warned Israel might strike the airport.

Hezbollah earlier Sunday urged the government to reverse the decision.

Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted the head of its civil aviation organisation Hossein Pourfarzaneh as saying the body was "following up on this issue daily" and "waiting to see what will happen on February 18".

Hezbollah lost a supply route when Islamist-led rebels in December ousted ally Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria.

Rubio said that "while the fall of Assad is certainly promising", Washington would be watching Syria "very carefully".

Netanyahu warned "Israel will act to prevent any threat from emerging near our border in southwest Syria".

"If any force in Syria today believes that Israel will permit other hostile forces to use Syria as a base of operations against us, they are gravely mistaken," he added.

Israel conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria after war broke out there in 2011, mainly targeting Assad government forces and pro-Iran groups including Hezbollah.

It also conducted strikes after Assad's fall, and Israeli troops have entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

lk/lg/ysm

X

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
Chemical weapons watchdog says found banned CS agent in Ukraine-supplied samples
The Hague (AFP) Feb 14, 2025
The international chemical weapons watchdog said Friday it had found the banned riot control agent CS in nine samples handed to it by Ukraine from the front line in its war against Russia. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it had identified the toxic agent in samples from four grenade shells, three soil samples, and two vegetation samples next to a dugout. The OPCW did not point fingers at either Ukraine or Russia for the use of the CS, which is banned as a wea ... read more

WAR REPORT
Canada willing to join US 'Iron Dome' missile shield: minister

Russia slams Trump plan for 'Star Wars' missile shield

Teledyne Brown Engineering Completes Successful Launch of Black Dagger Zombie Target Missile

Iron Dome for America: Trump's missile defense effort

WAR REPORT
Pregnant teenager among five Ukrainians killed by Russian missile

Russian missile kills four, wounds 20 in east Ukraine: governor

Iran unveils new ballistic missile in show of force

Russian missile attack hits Odesa, wounding seven

WAR REPORT
CIA using drones to surveil drug cartels, labs in Mexico

Russia says downed 90 Ukrainian drones and a missile

Elsight's connectivity enables Phoenix Air Unmanned to conduct 320-Mile UAV pipeline patrol for Shell

Russian attack drones, artillery pummel Ukraine killing at least 3, injuring 12

WAR REPORT
Satellogic and Telespazio Brasil to provide low-latency satellite imagery for the Brazilian Air Force

Mobix Labs Secures Defense Funding to Advance SATCOM SoC Innovation

ESA and European Commission to establish secure quantum communications network

KP Labs and ESA Unveil PINEBERRY to Enhance AI Security and Transparency in Space Missions

WAR REPORT
Shipment of 'heavy' US bombs arrives in Israel: defence ministry

Britain unveils 'firepower' package for Ukraine amid uncertainty over future of war

Moving troops, armaments across Europe 'problematic': EU auditors

US pledges $117 mn in aid to Lebanon military

WAR REPORT
Denmark PM says will announce 'massive' rearmament plans

Indian court bails British arms dealer in chopper scam

UK sanctions Russia officials in latest 'Kremlin crackdown'

EU to relax spending rules to boost defence investment

WAR REPORT
UK's Starmer says Europe 'must take on a greater role in NATO'

Europe couldn't replace US forces 'overnight': German defence minister

Philippines' Marcos puts China at centre of poll campaign

Europe ready for Trump-style shift, says Project 2025 chief

WAR REPORT
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.