Despite the continued Israeli occupation and its violations of the ceasefire agreement, the people of southern Lebanon have triumphantly returned to their border villages in a show of national unity and resolve.
Residents return to Lebanese border villages as Israeli withdrawal deadline expires https://t.co/caRhNfGgnX
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) January 26, 2025
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hailed this as “a day of victory for Lebanon and the Lebanese, a victory for truth, sovereignty and national unity.” He called on the southerners to “exercise self-control and trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces, which are keen to protect our sovereignty and security and ensure your safe return to your homes and towns.”
الجيش اللبناني معكم دائمًا حيثما تكونون يكون وسيظل ملتزمًا بحمايتكم وصون أمنكم.#راجعين_يا_جنوب
— العماد جوزيف عون (@President_Aoun_) January 26, 2025
President Aoun stressed that “Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable,” adding, “The Lebanese Army is always with you, wherever you are, and will remain committed to protecting you and preserving your security. Together we will remain stronger, united under the banner of Lebanon.”
صورة تنتشر عبر مواقع التواصل | “الجيش اللبناني يؤمن غطاءً دفاعيًا لأهالي ميس الجبل العائدين” pic.twitter.com/o5qtLtoC5e
— قناة المنار (@TVManar1) January 26, 2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri paid tribute to the steadfast people of the south, saying their actions today “confirmed that sovereignty is an act that is lived and not slogans that are repeated by tongues.” He added that the “baptism of blood” embodied by the southern Lebanese “confirms with conclusive evidence that Israel is persisting in violating Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam expressed full confidence in the army’s role in protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring the safe return of the southerners. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the countries that sponsored the ceasefire to “assume their responsibilities in deterring the aggression and forcing the Israeli enemy to withdraw from the lands it occupies.”
اتصلتُ بفخامة الرئيس العماد جوزاف عون صباح اليوم لمواكبة تطورات الوضع في الجنوب، وأكدتُ له أنني أشاركُه الثقة الكاملة بدور القوات المسلحة اللبنانية، وفي مقدّمها الجيش، في حماية سيادة لبنان وتأمين العودة الآمنة لأهلنا في الجنوب إلى قراهم ومنازلهم.
وأعيدُ التأكيد على ما قلتُه في…
— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafasalam) January 26, 2025
Former President Emile Lahoud stressed that “the strength of these people is not only in their weapons, but in the exceptional determination that drives them to head to their towns, even if they were still occupied, to confront the tanks and soldiers of the enemy with their bodies.”
For his part, Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon stated that he “bowed before the martyrs and wounded unarmed civilians in the south, and before their pure will in the face of an occupation that violates the ceasefire agreement.” The national army was also praised by Hariri, who added, “I hope that our people will abide by its directives to protect them.” He further emphasised that “the international community is immediately called upon to assume its responsibility towards an occupation that is outside its law and an agreement that was guaranteed and sponsored by major powers and to which Lebanon has fully committed.”
انحني امام الشهداء والجرحى من اهلنا المدنيين العزل في الجنوب وامام ارادتهم الصافية في وجه احتلال يخرق اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار. التحية لجيشنا الوطني الذي آمل ان يلتزم اهلنا بتوجيهاته لحمايتهم. المجتمع الدولي مدعو فورا لتحمل مسؤوليته تجاه احتلال خارج على قانونه وعلى اتفاق ضمنته ورعته…
— Saad Hariri (@saadhariri) January 26, 2025
Official Member of Hezbollah Politburo Ghaleb Abu Zeinab described the scene as “a victory reminiscent of the victory of 2006”, noting the “environment of the resistance and the people of the south cannot be defeated.”
As the 60-day deadline for Israel’s full withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, which was part of the ceasefire agreement, ended today, Sunday, the Lebanese returned to their border villages using their own blood, defying the occupation and its attacks and violations.
⚡️ Amidst the chants of resistance…the people of Aita al-Shaab in southern #Lebanon return to their town despite the occupation’s failure to withdraw and its violation of the ceasefire agreement. pic.twitter.com/nauXOA8EJv
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) January 26, 2025
The occupation, however, disregarded the pullout and persisted in its breaches, bombs, and targeting of residents in the southern villages, killing four martyrs since this morning and injuring dozens more.
Source: Al-Manar and agencies
