According to the health ministry, Israeli soldiers have sadly killed 22 people and injured 124 in southern Lebanon. This happened as the Israeli military stayed in the area beyond the deadline for their withdrawal and Hezbollah's removal.
Despite warnings about safety, thousands of residents have returned to towns and villages near the border.
The Israeli military mentioned that it had fired "warning shots in multiple areas," but didn't specify if anyone was hit. They also detained several individuals they claimed were an "imminent threat."
Israel stated that the 60-day ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah hasn't been fully carried out. It's unclear how many of their soldiers are still in Lebanon or how long they plan to remain.
The ceasefire started in November.
According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israeli forces attacked people trying to enter areas still occupied. Sadly, women were among those killed, and the injured included women, children, and a paramedic.
The Lebanese army reported that one of its soldiers was killed and another was wounded by Israeli fire.
The ceasefire agreement, arranged by the US and France, ended 14 months of conflict. It required Israeli troops to leave and Hezbollah fighters and weapons to be removed from southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, thousands of Lebanese soldiers were expected to take over the area where Hezbollah had been the main force for decades.
A Western diplomatic official, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned that Israel requested more time to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon, with an initial plan for a 30-day extension.
Recently, Hezbollah's TV station, Al Manar, seemed to encourage people to return south, and some convoys arrived waving the group's yellow and green flag.
The end of the ceasefire deadline is a big challenge for Lebanon's new president, army chief Joseph Aoun, who is eager to bring stability to a country worn out by many crises.
The presence of Israeli troops is understandably worrying for many in Lebanon, as Israel occupied the country's south from 1982 to 2000. On Sunday, President Aoun emphasized that Lebanon's "sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable," and he assured everyone that he is "addressing this issue at the highest levels."
At the same time, Hezbollah urged the "international community, especially the countries backing the agreement, to take responsibility for Israeli violations and ensure its full withdrawal" from Lebanon.
The conflict took a turn for the worse last September, leading to a fierce Israeli air campaign across Lebanon, the assassination of senior Hezbollah leaders, and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. This offensive resulted in the tragic loss of around 4,000 lives in Lebanon, including many civilians, and forced over 1.2 million residents to flee their homes.
On Friday, the Israeli prime minister's office stated that the withdrawal, as outlined in the ceasefire, depends on the Lebanese army taking control of southern Lebanon and fully enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah retreats beyond the Litani River, about 30 km (20 miles) from the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel known as the Blue Line.
"Since the ceasefire agreement hasn't been fully implemented by the Lebanese state yet, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, with full coordination with the US," the statement mentioned.