Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon beyond the deadline stipulated in a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Friday (24). According to officials, the terms of the truce have not been fully implemented.
Under the measure, which came into effect in November, Hezbollah weapons and fighters must be removed from areas south of Lebanon’s Litani River, and Israeli troops must withdraw while the Lebanese military moves into the region, all within of a period of 60 days with completion scheduled for Monday (27) at 4 am local time.
The deal, brokered by the United States and France, ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The fighting came to a head with a major Israeli offensive that left Hezbollah severely weakened and displaced more than 1.2 million people in Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the Israeli military withdrawal process was “dependent on the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and implementing the agreement fully and effectively, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani.”
“As the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully implemented by the Lebanese state, the process of gradual withdrawal will continue, in full coordination with the United States,” the statement said.
There was no immediate comment from Lebanon or Hezbollah.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hezbollah said on Thursday (23) that any delay in Israel’s withdrawal would be an unacceptable violation of the agreement, which the Lebanese state would have to deal with “by all means and methods guaranteed by international charters.”
Israel said its campaign against Hezbollah was aimed at ensuring the return home of tens of thousands of people forced from their homes in northern Israel due to Hezbollah rocket fire.
He dealt major blows to Hezbollah during the conflict, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and thousands of the group’s fighters and destroying much of its arsenal.
Hezbollah was further weakened in December when its Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown, cutting off its land supply route from Iran.
This content was originally published in Israel will keep troops in southern Lebanon beyond withdrawal deadline on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
