File image.
The Lebanese military confirmed on April 1 that its forces are withdrawing from the country’s south, amid mass displacement caused by the ongoing Israeli ground operation against Hezbollah.
In a statement, the military described the withdrawal as a “repositioning and redeployment operation” in response to the “escalating Israeli offensive.” It said that the move was necessary due to the increasing risk of units being encircled, isolated, and cut off from supply lines as hostilities intensify.
Over 600,000 people have been reportedly displaced from southern Lebanon since the start of the battle there, which broke out more than a month ago as a result of the American-Israeli war on Iran. The Lebanese military began withdrawing on day one, but in recent days it accelerated the process, abandoning towns where people were still holding up as Israel expanded its ground operation.
The military said that it will continue to stand by the people to the extent possible, maintaining a presence in a number of affected towns.
It noted that continued Israeli strikes do not distinguish between troops and civilians across Lebanon. A total of six soldiers have been killed since the start of the battle, despite repeated claims by Israel that it is only targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Responding to backlash, the Lebanese military warned of efforts by some media outlets and social media platforms to undermine confidence in the armed forces, noting that such narratives could have negative repercussions for civilians and fuel internal tensions.
Four days earlier, a Lebanese security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese military is following a policy of remaining alongside the people until the last moment before they need to evacuate an area.
“Personnel stay where civilians are, and withdraw only after displacement is complete, and before any potential Israeli advance, ensuring neither they nor residents are exposed to danger,” the source said.
Deployment is directly tied to displacement patterns and conditions in each town, the source said, noting that “the presence of residents is a decisive factor in the Internal Security Forces maintaining their posts.”
“Posts are not evacuated under a declared central plan, but based on changing field data,” the source added. “Every town that is emptied of its residents is automatically followed by the evacuation of its police post, with personnel joining the nearest military point.”
The town of Khiam was “among the last locations to maintain a security presence alongside residents until the final stages of displacement, before it was evacuated” as Israeli forces advanced.
The town of Debel highlighted the complexity of the situation, as many of its residents are either soldiers and their relatives.
“The withdrawal did not stop there,” the source told Asharq Al-Awsat. “The following day, personnel were completely pulled out of Debel toward Rmeish, leaving no effective military presence inside the town, while personnel from Debel remained in their homes in civilian clothing.”
Over the past year, the Lebanese military increased its presence in southern Lebanon as it led government-sanctioned efforts to disarm Hezbollah under pressure from the United States. These efforts began after a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. that ended a confrontation sparked by the war in the Gaza Strip.
The military received billions in aid from the U.S. and allied Western countries in the last 15 years. After Lebanon’s liquidity crisis, this aid became critical for its survival.
For years, this support has appeared to be an attempt to bolster the military as a counterweight to Hezbollah. The demilitarization efforts have proven that this was indeed the intention of Washington and its allies.
Still, the Lebanese military was accused of being lenient with Hezbollah throughout the demilitarization process. The commander, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, was especially ridiculed for refusing to mount more pressure on the group, fearing that the military could fracture, similar to what happened during the country’s civil war.
A visit by Haykal to the U.S. in February caused a major controversy when he declined to recognize Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization”.
When the ongoing battle started, the military’s decision to refrain from fighting Israel and simply withdraw led to additional pressure from the other side.
The military was accused of being unable to defend Lebanese territories, and even of attempting to prevent Hezbollah from doing so.
This whole situation highlighted, in a clear way, why Hezbollah is critical for the defense strategy of Lebanon. The Lebanese military itself seems well aware of this reality, and attempting to strike a balance between appeasing Washington, and avoiding any confrontation with Hezbollah.
It is unclear if the military will be able to continue with the position, however, as Israel is planning to cover most of southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River, some 20 to 30 kilometers away from the Blue Line marking the unofficial border between the two countries.
Pressure from the U.S. to push the military into some confrontation with Hezbollah under the pretext of demilitarization is growing, and as Israeli forces advance deeper, some troops, like the soldiers from Debel, could opt to join the group and defend their towns instead of fleeing.
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coward lebanese army.
the lebanese sold out to the j3ws
sad .
what did i tell you southfront shitstains?!!!
we’re taking all of lebanon!!!
heheheeh