Instead of withdrawing, Israeli troops in south Lebanon advance under truce deal

On the third day of a ceasefire that ended more than 13 months of war in Lebanon, Israeli troops advanced in southern border villages to zones where they were not present prior to the truce.

Four Israeli tanks and two bulldozers entered neighborhoods of Khiam, as troops also advanced towards Markaba's town square.

Hezbollah's al-Manar TV said troops had failed to enter the western neighborhoods of Khiam and Markaba's town square in two months of ground confrontations with Hezbollah.

Israeli forces "are now occupying" the western neighborhoods of Khiam, the TV channel reported.

It added that troops were bulldozing, blocking roads and uprooting olive trees in Markaba and Kfarkila.

"Israeli army forces also advanced today to the square of the town of Markaba, which they were unable to enter during the days of confrontations, bulldozing and cutting off roads," al-Manar said.

During the 60-day first phase of the ceasefire deal, based on Security Council Resolution 1701, Hezbollah and Israeli forces are to withdraw from south Lebanon, and the Lebanese military is to step in.

The pace of the withdrawal and the scheduled return of Lebanese civilians to their homes would depend on whether the deal is implemented and enforced by all sides, an Israeli security official said.

"We need to see the mechanism is working," he said. "It’s a gradual agreement. It’s a gradual withdrawal."

The Lebanese army accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire several times by conducting strikes on Lebanon with "various weapons" and continuing to patrol and surveil Lebanese skies with warplanes and drones.

Lebanese authorities reported scattered incidents of Israeli mortar attacks, strikes and shots that wounded civilians trying to return home in south Lebanon.