Lebanon reports 11 dead as ceasefire deadline with Israel expires
Lebanon said 11 people were killed on Sunday in southern Lebanon, where tensions mounted after the deadline expired for Israeli troops to withdraw as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Iranian-allied Lebanese Hezbollah movement.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health said at least 11 people, including one soldier, were killed and 83 others injured in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon as people attempted to return to their home towns there.
The Lebanese army meanwhile said one of its soldiers was killed and another injured by firing from the Israeli army in two separate incidents and accused Israel of failing to comply with the ceasefire deal.
The Israeli army said its troops operating in southern Lebanon had fired warning shots to "remove threats in a number of areas where suspects were identified approaching the troops."
The military added that suspects were apprehended for posing an imminent threat to its troops and were being questioned.
People have gathered since the early hours of Sunday trying to return to their towns and villages in the border area of southern Lebanon, the official Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) said.
The Israeli military has warned residents not to return to the area and accused Hezbollah of inciting tensions.
Online images purportedly showed people crossing a barbed wire fence and entering the southern town of Kfar Kila, carrying pictures and the Hezbollah banner.
Footage circulating online also showed a convoy of cars attempting to enter the southern town of Ayta al-Shaab despite the Israeli army warning that it is still operating in the area.
The United Nations said on Sunday it is not yet safe for people to return to their places in southern Lebanon.
"As seen tragically this morning, conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages," UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the head of the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Aroldo Lázaro, said in a joint statement.
Some locals sounded resolute about returning to their towns in the region against the odds.
"We are determined to enter our villages, whatever the cost may be," Fatma, a woman from the southern town of Mais al-Jabal, told dpa as she was trekking towards her home town.
"We are here as civilians and not as armed people. We are the people of the land," Mohammed, a male native of the southern town of Maroun al-Ras, said.
People were seen entering Maroun al-Ras and standing facing the nearby Israelis tanks, witnessed said.
For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, an ex-army chief, called on people to exercise restraint.
"Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. I am following up on this issue at the highest levels to ensure your rights and dignity," Aoun, who took office earlier this month, told the southerners, according to NNA.
On Saturday, the Lebanese army blamed Israel for not being able to deploy its forces throughout southern Lebanon as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war in late November.
The Lebanese army said it is ready to complete its deployment as soon as the Israeli forces withdraw.
Under the 60-day ceasefire deal, which was announced on November 26, Israel was supposed to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by Sunday.
The Israeli withdrawal was supposed to be followed by a deployment of the Lebanese army, which would patrol the border area with Israel in southern Lebanon alongside UN peacekeepers to prevent Hezbollah from returning and re-establishing a military presence in the area.
According to media reports, Israel has asked the United States for a 30-day extension to the original deadline.
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