Lebanese Prime Minister Demands IDF Withdraw From 5 Defensive Points

Latest Developments

• Salam Demands IDF Withdraw Fully From Lebanon: Newly elected Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam demanded a full IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon during a February 28 visit to the Lebanese city of Tyre, near the border with Israel. Salam said that he was attempting to lead an international effort to “force” Israel to “withdraw from our occupied lands and the so-called five points” — a reference to five U.S.-approved posts just inside of Lebanese territory where IDF troops remain to protect northern Israeli communities.
• Israel Remains at 5 Points Temporarily: The five IDF posts lie in elevated positions opposite the northern Israeli communities of Shlomi, Zarit, Avivim, Margaliot, and Metula and are intended to prevent potential invasions by Hezbollah similar to the October 7, 2023, Hamas atrocities in southern Israel. IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said that “small amounts of troops” would be “deployed temporarily” throughout the five defensive positions.
• Hezbollah Attempts to Reconstitute: The IDF confirmed on February 27 that it killed Hezbollah terrorist Mehran Nasreddine in a drone strike on his car in the Lebanese town of Hermel. Nasreddine was a member of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, which is tasked with smuggling weapons from Iran and its proxies into Lebanon utilizing routes on the Lebanon-Syria border. On February 27, the IDF destroyed a Hezbollah observation post in southern Lebanon after it detected activity in violation of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The following day, Lebanese authorities at Beirut’s international airport seized $2.5 million destined for Hezbollah brought into the country by a passenger arriving from Turkey.

FDD Expert Response

“Salam’s demands for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon are unsurprising. The IDF, however, only maintains these five positions in south Lebanon because the Lebanese Armed Forces have failed to prevent Hezbollah from rearming itself south of the Litani River as they are obligated to do. Salam should refocus towards his own country’s inability or lack of willingness to confront Hezbollah head-on.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

“Lebanon’s seizure of the $2.5 million at Beirut Airport should be a welcome move — if it reflects a genuine desire by Lebanese authorities to clamp down on funds reaching Hezbollah through Lebanese ports of entry and on the group’s activities and arsenal in Lebanon. As matters stand, this is a one-off — one that could either reflect a new Lebanese posture or yet another Lebanese performance intended to further Salam’s stated goal of rallying increased international pressure on Israel to withdraw from areas its troops continue to occupy in south Lebanon.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel Kills ‘Key’ Terrorist Responsible for Rearming Hezbollah,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hassan Nasrallah May Be Dead, but at His Funeral, Hezbollah Showed It’s Alive and Kicking,” by David Daoud

“Lebanon Chooses Nawaf Salam, an Adversary of Israel, as New Prime Minister,” FDD Flash Brief