Lebanese PM urges ceasefire monitoring committee to pressure Israel over violations

Najib Mikati insists committee must ensure withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territories in line with ceasefire terms

A resident sets up a Christmas tree among the rubble of a church in the village of Derdghaya, southern Lebanon. EPA

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday urged the committee responsible for overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to exert pressure on Israel over its repeat violations of the truce agreement.

Speaking from the border town of Khiam, where he concluded a tour in the south, Mr Mikati said the committee must ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territories in line with the ceasefire terms.

He accused Israel of “stalling” in implementing UN Security Resolution 1701, on which the truce is based, and which stipulates that Israel withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon in a “phased manner” amid the arrival of Lebanese Army troops.

The southern Lebanese village of Al Taybeh is shrouded by smoke during an air strike as Israeli forces seek out Hezbollah. AFP

The sister, mother and the partner of Mohammad Farhat, a major with the Lebanese Army who was killed in an Israeli strike with two other soldiers on the outskirts of the village of Yater in southern Lebanon, attend an official memorial in Beirut. Reuters

Lebanese Army soldiers take part in an official ceremony to pay tribute after the death of Maj Mohammad Farhat. Reuters

Lebanese Army soldiers carry the coffin of Maj Mohammad Farhat during an official ceremony to pay tribute in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

Emotions ran high at a memorial for Lebanese Army Maj Mohammad Farhat, who was killed in an Israeli strike with two other soldiers on the outskirts of the village of Yater in southern Lebanon. Reuters

The relatives of Maj Mohammad Farhat are comforted by friends at a memorial in Beirut. Reuters

The sister of Maj Mohammad Farhat at the official memorial to her brother in Beirut. Reuters

Mourners at the official ceremony to pay tribute to Maj Mohammad Farhat of the Lebanese Army, who was killed in an Israeli strike with two other soldiers on the outskirts of the village of Yater in southern Lebanon. Reuters

“We must be candid and clear: for the army to fully carry out its duties, the monitoring committee formed to implement Resolution 1701 must perform its role completely and exert pressure on the Israeli enemy to stop all violations … these are essential steps to enable the army to fulfil its duties in full,” said Mr Mikati.

The US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel requires the Lebanese army to increase its presence in the south to 10,000 troops.

The Lebanese Prime Minister also said he had requested a meeting with French and US officials from the ceasefire committee on Tuesday to demand an end to Israel’s stalling and to speed up their withdrawal from Lebanese territories before the 60-day window, which ends on January 26.

“There must be no obstacles preventing the army from carrying out its duties,” he said.

The southern town of Khiam is about 6km from Lebanon’s border with Israel and has been the site of some of the most intense clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters.

On December 12, Israeli forces bombed the town of Khiam, less than 24 hours after withdrawing from it, leading to aa number of deaths and injuries.

Observing the damages, Mr Mikati said: “The destruction in Khiam is heartbreaking and there will undoubtedly be a plan for reconstruction with full urgency and transparency.”

Mr Mikati was accompanied by Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and Unifil Commander General Aroldo Lazaro during his tour.

The Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire came into effect on November 27 to end the devastating conflict, after more than a year of cross-border clashes with Hezbollah escalated into full-scale war in September.

The agreement involves a 60-day truce, during which Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw north of the Litani river and Israeli troops drawdown from the south of Lebanon. The truce, based on UN Security Resolution 1701 which brought the last war between Hezbollah and Israel to an end in 2006, also requires the Lebanese army to increase its presence in the south.

Despite the ceasefire holding thus far, Lebanon has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the truce agreement. On Wednesday, Israel demolished homes in the border town of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon.