France calls for departure from five positions

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited UNIFIL forces in the south amid efforts to implement the ceasefire and deploy the Lebanese army.

Guterres said Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese Armed Forces deployment and control of weapons were essential to Resolution 1701. He also described destruction and reconstruction needs.

UN officials reported 15 people killed, including a Lebanese soldier, as civilians attempted to return to southern villages; the original withdrawal timetable was not met.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the Israeli troop withdrawal deadline to 18 February, after the initial 60-day period expired.

The UN said Israel had not fully withdrawn south of the Blue Line, while acknowledging progress in Lebanese army deployments and civilian returns.

A UNIFIL briefing reported Israeli withdrawal from villages but continued military presence at five positions north of the Blue Line.

UNIFIL described medical and humanitarian support by contingents from several countries while Israeli positions remained inside Lebanon.

At its 47th anniversary observance, UNIFIL leadership stressed reconstruction, explosive clearance and dialogue toward a permanent ceasefire.

Projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel and Israeli forces retaliated with strikes. Hezbollah denied involvement in the launches; attribution remained contested.

UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces signed a memorandum extending assistance for mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal in southern Lebanon.