The southern Lebanese town of Khiam has increasingly become a centerpiece for the struggles with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. Just hours after Israeli troops withdrew from Khiam as part of the ceasefire, an Israeli drone has attacked the town square, killing at least two people and wounding others.
Lebanese PM Najib Mikati issued a statement condemning the attack on Khiam, noting that the Lebanese military is already deploying around the town as per the requirements of the ceasefire. He called for the US and French-led committee to “clarify” their stance on the ceasefire violations.
The committee is meant to oversee the ceasefire, but there have been nearly 200 Israeli violations in the past two weeks, killing around 30 Lebanese people, and the committee doesn’t appear to be doing much of anything about it.
Indeed, one of the first of those Israeli violations was in the town of Khiam as well. Less than a day after the ceasefire went into effect, Israeli troops shot Lebanese media trying to cover the ceasefire, wounding several.
The ceasefire is meant to see the Lebanese Army deploy across southern Lebanon to replace Hezbollah positions, and for Hezbollah to move north of the Litani River. The goal was to get this, and the Israeli withdrawal, all done in 60 days, but some Israelis have suggested they are considering staying in Lebanon beyond the deadline.
Today’s deadly drone strike did not appear to directly target the Lebanese Army deployed to Khiam, but rather hit some returnees in a town badly devastated by the Israeli invasion. Lebanon’s military has urged civilians to hold off on returning to Khiam for now, saying they still need to make sure to get rid of any exploded ordinance left in the town after its occupation by Israel.
Some people were already trying to return as soon as the ceasefire was announced, though actually getting there safely has been easier said than done. Israel has repeatedly warned people against trying to return to their homes in southern Lebanon, and even claimed it was a “violation” of the ceasefire for people in cars to travel back to those areas. Many people are impatient at just being displaced though, so it’s likely they’ll continue to try to come home whether the area is fully ready for them or not.
