Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Friday that Israel might not complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by the deadline set in its ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. The U.S., which brokered the deal, appears prepared to push for an extension of the truce.
Under the November agreement, Israel is expected to finish pulling back by Sunday, with Hezbollah troops retreating to the north of the Litani River and Lebanese forces monitoring a buffer zone near the southern border alongside U.N. peacekeepers.
Netanyahu emphasized that the deadline assumes the withdrawal process could continue beyond 60 days but noted the Lebanese government hasn’t fully enforced the deal, likely referring to insufficient deployment of troops.
Recent talks between Israeli officials and U.S. mediators highlighted ongoing efforts to address the conflict’s complexities. The Trump administration believes a short extension is urgent and stressed President Trump’s commitment to ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety in northern Israel while supporting Prime Minister Michel Aoun’s new government.
Hezbollah has warned it could resume fighting if Israel doesn’t withdraw forces fully by the deadline, with recent rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel intensifying tensions. Both Hezbollah and Hamas, allies of Iran, are involved in the conflict alongside regional instability.
The war, which began after rockets from Hezbollah targeted southern Israel in early 2023, has claimed thousands of lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, and caused significant human suffering.
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Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-war-ceasefire-8fa82e29edfd258cf6b4cca43df2450d