The Israeli army confirmed on Monday that it will maintain a military presence at five key positions in southern Lebanon, despite the upcoming deadline for its full withdrawal from the area as part of a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. The Israeli military announced the locations of these positions, which will remain under its control even after the scheduled withdrawal from Lebanese border villages and towns.

According to the military, the five strategic positions are located at a hill near Labbouneh, opposite the Israeli border town of Shlomi; the Jabal Blat hill, opposite Zar’it; a hill across from Avivim and Malkia; a hill across from Margaliot; and a hill across from Metula.

These military posts will be manned by Israeli troops, who have established military outposts at each of the locations. However, none of the posts are within built-up areas of Lebanon.

While the Israeli withdrawal is expected to occur tomorrow, it remains unclear how long the Israeli army will be permitted to maintain its presence at the five strategic points. U.S. authorization has been granted for the troops to remain, though the duration of their stay will depend on the actions taken by the Lebanese government, according to a source from the U.S. administration.

In addition to their positions in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army has bolstered defenses on the Israeli side of the border, adding several new military posts in front of every Israeli border community. The military has also upgraded its surveillance capabilities with additional cameras, radars, and sensors, as well as tripling the number of troops stationed along the border compared to pre-conflict levels.

Despite the increase in defense measures, the Israeli army anticipates that Hezbollah supporters may stage protests as residents of southern Lebanon's border villages return to their homes. However, the military has stated that its troops will not be stationed in the towns themselves and that any potential friction will be avoided. The Israeli army will prevent individuals from approaching the Israeli border or the newly established military posts, ensuring that its operations remain focused on maintaining security.

Should the ceasefire hold, displaced Israeli residents of northern Israel will begin returning to their homes on March 2, marking a return to normalcy for many affected by the ongoing conflict.

In related developments, the Israeli army reported the demolition of a Hezbollah tunnel in the Mount Dov border area on the Lebanese side. The tunnel, which belonged to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, contained multiple rooms and weapon caches. It was discovered weeks ago by the military's 810th "Mountains" Regional Brigade and was demolished by combat engineers on Sunday.