Israeli forces are set to stay in southern Lebanon past the 60-day withdrawal deadline agreed upon in a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah. The reason? The terms of the agreement haven't been fully met, according to the Israeli prime minister's office 🙅♂️.
Under the deal, which kicked off on November 27, Hezbollah was supposed to pull its weapons and fighters from areas south of the Litani River 🌊, and Israeli troops would withdraw as the Lebanese military stepped in—all within 60 days. That deadline hits Sunday at 4 a.m., but Israel says not so fast 🛑.
The agreement, brokered by the U.S. 🇺🇸 and France 🇫🇷, put a halt to over a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict peaked with Israel launching a major offensive that left Hezbollah reeling and over 1.2 million people in Lebanon displaced 🏃♀️🏃♂️.
In a statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said the Israeli military's withdrawal hinges on the Lebanese army fully deploying in southern Lebanon and enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah moves beyond the Litani River. \"Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States,\" the statement read.
No word yet from Lebanon 🇱🇧 on the situation.
Hezbollah Hits Back 💥
Hezbollah isn't thrilled about the delay. A Hezbollah official, referring to a statement issued Thursday, said any holdup is an unacceptable breach of the agreement and puts the ball in the Lebanese state's court to act 👊. They emphasized that the state should handle such violations \"through all means and methods guaranteed by international charters.\"
Meanwhile, the Israeli military says it's still operating in southern Lebanon in line with the ceasefire understandings and has been striking Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and observation posts in recent days 🎯.
The White House chimed in, calling for a \"short, temporary ceasefire extension\" and highlighting President Donald Trump's commitment to getting Israeli citizens back home and supporting Lebanon's government. \"We are pleased that the IDF has started the withdrawal from the central regions, and we continue to work closely with our regional partners to finalize the extension,\" said National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes.
Aftermath of the Conflict 🌪️
Israel's campaign against Hezbollah aimed to help tens of thousands of Israelis return to homes in the north after being forced out by Hezbollah's rocket fire 🚀. The offensive dealt major blows to Hezbollah, reportedly killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and thousands of fighters, and wiping out much of its arsenal.
Hezbollah took another hit in December when its Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad, was toppled by rebels, cutting off its overland supply route from Iran 🌐.
Reference(s):
Israeli forces to stay in south Lebanon past withdrawal deadline
cgtn.com
