Netanyahu: Israeli forces to remain in Lebanon beyond Jan 26 deadline

Netanyahu: Israeli forces to remain in Lebanon beyond Jan 26 deadline

“Israel” will not meet the 60-day deadline for its full withdrawal from southern Lebanon, set for Sunday, January 26, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Friday.

In the first public acknowledgment of the delay, following weeks of speculation, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement explaining that the Israeli military’s withdrawal process “is conditional on the Lebanese Army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani.”

Netanyahu alleged that since Lebanon “has not yet fully enforced” its obligations under the ceasefire, “the phased withdrawal process will continue,” further claiming “full coordination with the United States.”

The premier claimed that the terms of the agreement were drafted “with the understanding that the withdrawal process may continue beyond 60 days.”

Meanwhile, the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on November 27 and ended the two-month war, specifies that the withdrawal “should not exceed 60 days.”

Currently, the Israeli occupation military remains deployed in several villages in southern Lebanon, primarily in the eastern sector. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces have taken control of villages in the western sector as the occupation forces have begun their pullback.

Under the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese Army is required to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as the Israeli military completes its withdrawal over a 60-day period.

Hezbollah is obligated to pull its forces back north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

A committee consisting of delegates from “Israel”, Lebanon, France, the United States, and a representative from the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, has been established to monitor and address any violations of the ceasefire.

It is noteworthy that the UN peacekeeping force has reported multiple instances of Israeli violations of the ceasefire terms.

Source: Al Mayadeen English Website