The Israeli army will not complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Monday’s deadline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday, adding that Lebanon has not fully met the ceasefire agreement.
The agreement, brokered by the United States (U.S.) and France, ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran. The fighting culminated in a major Israeli offensive that displaced over 1.2 million people in Lebanon and significantly weakened Hezbollah.
According to the agreement, which came into effect on November 27th, Hezbollah’s weapons and fighters must withdraw from areas south of the Litani River, while Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw as the Lebanese army deploys in the region, all within a 60-day period ending on Monday at 4 a.m. (2 a.m. GMT).
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the withdrawal process of the Israeli army “depends on the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and the full and effective implementation of the agreement, as Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani.”
“Since the Lebanese state has not yet fully implemented the ceasefire agreement, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the U.S.,” the statement said.
There has been no comment so far from Lebanon or Hezbollah.
