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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon until February 18 after the original 60-day ceasefire ended with a deadly confrontation.
The ceasefire agreement, which was brokered by the United States and entered into effect on November 27, ended on January 27. However, Israel said that it needs to stay longer because the Lebanese military has not deployed to all areas of southern Lebanon as agreed.
In a statement released on January 26, the White House said that “the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, will continue to be in effect until February 18, 2025.”
It added that the respective governments “will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.”
The extension was announced on the day the deadline passed for Israeli forces to withdraw from south Lebanon.
On the same day, a deadly confrontation took place when hundreds of Lebanese marched towards Israeli-occupied towns in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese health officials, Israeli soldiers killed 22 people in the confrontation.
At least six Lebanese were injured by Israeli fire as they attempted to approach the border village of Kfar Kila
Confrontations between local residents and the Israeli army at the entrance of Maroun al-Ras town
Residents of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon continue to return to their homes in the town, despite warnings from the Israeli army, which continues to deploy in the area
Israeli soldiers fire on a vehicle returning to Lebanon
Reporting on January 27, Al-Akhbar news outlet, which is close to Hezbollah, said that “what happened yesterday will be completed today, with more popular crowds, from the people of the border villages…where people will not wait for permission to complete the process of removing the occupation forces from the last sites they still occupy.”
Sources told the news outlet that Hezbollah informed aligned Lebanese lawmaker Mohammad Raad that it “does not participate in any internal or external communications regarding extending the 60-day period, and that it adheres to the text of the agreement and the necessity of the enemy’s withdrawal without any delay.”
Speaking later on the same day, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that the group would not accept any justification to extend the period given for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon. He went on to accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire 1,350 times.
“Nobody in Lebanon can accept the extension [of Israeli troops withdrawal] for one moment. Israel must get out,” Qassem said.
“Any repercussions of the withdrawal’s delay will be the responsibility of the UN, the US, France and the Israeli entity,” he continued.
The leader added that the “Resistance” has the right to act in what it deems appropriate in response to the “occupation”.
The confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah broke out as a result of the war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It claimed the lives of some 4,000 people in Lebanon, and over 130 others in Israel. Hezbollah took a large blow during the confrontation with most of its leadership wiped out. Despite its threat, the group will not likely escalate.
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