Hezbollah MP Ali Fayad warned that the party would not remain idle if Israel fails to meet the January 26 deadline for withdrawing from southern Lebanon, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement brokered between the two sides.

The agreement, reached under French and U.S. mediation, ended months of escalating clashes that began as cross-border skirmishes in October 2023 and evolved into a full-scale conflict by September 2024.

Speaking at a ceremony in Nabatiyeh honoring victims of Israeli bombings in Taybeh, in the Marjayoun district, Fayad emphasized the significance of the upcoming deadline, saying that Israel's failure to comply with the January 26 deadline will signify the collapse of the ceasefire implementation, the dismantling of the agreed-upon mechanism, and the erosion of the international role in sponsoring this agreement. 

A Hezbollah statement quoting Fayad underscored the broader implications of such a scenario, warning that it would usher Lebanon into a "new phase" with far-reaching consequences.

“All Lebanese, without exception, will face new realities, defined by the necessity of confronting the Israeli occupation using all available means to expel it from our land,” the statement read.

Fayad further called on all Lebanese factions to take responsibility for defending the nation, emphasizing the collective duty of the government, the Lebanese Army, political parties, and citizens.