Lebanon claims 15 dead as civilians insist on going home, even after being warned not to

Israeli forces killed 15 people, including a Lebanese soldier, and wounded over 80 others in southern Lebanon Sunday as hundreds of civilians tried to return to their border villages. The incident occurred on the day Israeli forces were scheduled to withdraw under a ceasefire agreement.

The confrontation began when hundreds of Lebanese civilians, many carrying Hezbollah flags, attempted to break through roadblocks to reach their villages. The IDF opened fire on people who posed an imminent threat to their troops still deployed in the area.

The IDF says it's delaying its withdrawal because the Lebanese army hasn't fully deployed in southern Lebanon as agreed under the ceasefire terms. The agreement requires Hezbollah to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 20 miles from the border.

"The IDF remains deployed in southern Lebanon and will operate against any threat to our troops and Israel," military officials stated. They acknowledged the civilian attempts to return but said Hezbollah operatives were among the crowds creating "provocations."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for restraint from southern residents and said he's working "at the highest levels" to resolve the situation. "Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable," he stated.

The White House has urged for a brief extension of the ceasefire to allow for a coordinated withdrawal. Israel has pulled out from coastal areas but maintains positions further east, saying the withdrawal process will continue "in full coordination with the United States."

Hezbollah, which suffered significant losses during recent fighting, called Israel's delayed withdrawal a violation of the agreement but has not threatened to resume attacks. The group's leadership was severely weakened following Israeli strikes that killed its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in September.

The ceasefire, which began November 27, ended two months of intense fighting that followed Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel after Hamas's October 7 assault. The agreement remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations while the IDF continues limited strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets.