The Lebanese army said on Saturday it was ready to deploy its forces in the south of the country, accusing Israel of “delaying” in withdrawing under a ceasefire, a day before the withdrawal deadline.
Under the terms of the truce between Israel and Hezbollah that came into effect on November 27 last year, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south of the country while the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period ending on Sunday.
Hezbollah will withdraw its forces north of the Litani River – about 30 kilometers from the border – and dismantle all remaining military infrastructure in the south.
“There has been a delay in several stages as a result of the Israeli enemy’s delay in the withdrawal,” the Lebanese army said in a statement, confirming that it was “ready to resume its deployment as soon as the Israeli enemy withdraws.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that the withdrawal of troops would continue beyond the week-long deadline set by the agreement.
“The withdrawal process is conditional on the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and the full and effective implementation of the agreement, with Hezbollah withdrawing behind the Litani River,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
“Given that the Lebanese state has not yet fully implemented the ceasefire agreement, the process of a gradual withdrawal will continue in full coordination with the United States,” the Israeli leader’s office said in a statement, AFP reports.
