Lebanese and UN troops take positions in Dibbine after Israeli soldiers' withdrawal

United Nations peacekeepers and Lebanese troops have occupied positions in Dibbine, a village near Marjayoun, after Israeli forces withdrew Friday. This withdrawal signifies the first time Israeli soldiers have pulled back from an area in southern Lebanon since the latest conflict with Hezbollah erupted three months ago.

The deployment follows a ceasefire agreement that mandates Lebanese armed forces to assume security control in designated zones within Lebanon, from which militants are to be banned. The village of Dibbine showed signs of intense fighting, with dozens of homes destroyed by clashes and airstrikes. A bulldozer operated by the peacekeeping force was seen clearing the main road into the village.

Israeli troops had advanced into approximately one-fifth of Lebanon, pushing further south than during Israel's previous occupation from 1982 to 2000. The current ceasefire was negotiated through U.S.-brokered talks. The Lebanese government has accused Hezbollah of instigating the war and has sought to disarm the group. Meanwhile, Iran has called for a lasting truce that includes Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing upcoming elections, has expressed a desire to continue the offensive until Hezbollah is no longer a threat.

Tragically, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon, including Anqoun, where around 2,500 displaced individuals were sheltering. These strikes occurred nearly three hours after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings in Arabic.