Israel has begun withdrawing its troops from southern Lebanon, but it will maintain five outposts along the border, a move intended to keep Hezbollah from entrenching in the region. The outposts, each manned by 100-150 soldiers, are expected to number several thousand troops. Initially not part of the November ceasefire deal, Israel convinced the US that the Lebanese Army is not effective enough to secure the area.
The IDF says the Lebanese Army has improved its performance but still requires support to prevent Hezbollah from returning to the area. The five outposts will be located on the Lebanese side of the border and are intended to reduce friction with the local population. Intelligence efforts have been enhanced to distinguish between civilians and fighters, and cooperation with the US is maintained to report Hezbollah violations.
Israel aims to reopen northern areas to residents as soon as possible, citing progress in rebuilding infrastructure and defending against rocket attacks. The buffer zone in Syria has also shown benefits in protecting Israel, with local villagers receiving support from the IDF.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-842516