Israeli Forces to Remain in Southern Lebanon Beyond Ceasefire Deadline
In a surprising turn of events, Israeli forces will stay in southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day deadline stipulated in a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office on Friday. The decision comes as the terms of the agreement have not been fully implemented.
The ceasefire deal, which took effect on November 27, mandated that Hezbollah's weapons and fighters be removed from areas south of the Litani River. Simultaneously, Israeli troops were required to withdraw as the Lebanese military deployed into the region, all within a 60-day timeframe, ending on Sunday at 4 a.m.
\"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 Israeli Prime Minister's office stated. \"Our withdrawal is contingent on the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani.\"
Hezbollah, the Shiite armed group significantly weakened by the recent conflict, expressed strong opposition to the delay. In a statement issued on Thursday, Hezbollah declared any postponement of the Israeli withdrawal as an unacceptable breach of the agreement, placing the responsibility on the Lebanese state to respond \"through all means and methods guaranteed by international charters.\"
The Israeli military reported ongoing operations in southern Lebanon, including seizing Hezbollah weapons and dismantling infrastructure used by the group. Strikes against weapons storage facilities and observation posts have been conducted over the past few days.
The White House emphasized the urgency of a temporary ceasefire extension. Citing President Donald Trump's commitment to ensuring the safe return of Israeli citizens to their homes and supporting the Lebanese government, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated, \"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.\"
The recent conflict, which peaked with a major Israeli offensive, left over 1.2 million people displaced in Lebanon. Israel's campaign aimed to secure the return of tens of thousands of its citizens forced to flee northern Israel due to Hezbollah's rocket fire. The offensive inflicted major blows on Hezbollah, resulting in the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and thousands of its fighters, while destroying much of its arsenal.
Hezbollah's position was further compromised in December when its ally in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, was toppled from power by rebels, severing its overland supply route from Iran.
As tensions persist, the international community watches closely. The extension of Israeli forces' presence in southern Lebanon underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the complexities of enforcing peace agreements in the region.
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Israeli forces to stay in south Lebanon past withdrawal deadline
cgtn.com
