Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon but keeps five positions — Key Events — Levant

What happened

After the cessation's withdrawal deadline is extended to 18 February 2025, Israel withdraws from most of southern Lebanon but retains five hilltop positions north of the Blue Line. The UN reports that it also maintains two "buffer zones" north of the line.

The retained positions became Hezbollah's stated reason not to disarm and Lebanon's first demand in every later round. Resolution 2790 calls for their evacuation; the 2026 war replaced them with a far larger Israeli-held zone.

Confidence: High

When18 Feb 2025

KindMilitary · Territorial change

ArenaIsrael–Lebanon / Blue Line

Confidence: High Sources: Israel Defense Forces — Spokesperson's Unit announcements ↗ · UN Security Council resolutions, Secretary-General reports and meeting records (Levant)↗ · The Times of Israel ↗ Methodology Corrections

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Connected records

3 records that this event names, or that name it — every one an explicit reference in a published record, nothing inferred from subject matter.

Part of1

Campaigns whose record places this event inside them.

Lebanon front 2023–24The cessation and the positions Israel retained

Actors2

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Where this fits

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