Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon after the agreed withdrawal deadline as the ceasefire agreement faces complications.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces will not be withdrawing from southern Lebanon by the agreed Sunday deadline under the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, placing the agreement in jeopardy.
The ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and France, was intended to bring an end to over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The deal, effective since November 27, required Hezbollah’s weapons and fighters to be removed from areas south of the Litani river. Israeli forces were to withdraw as the Lebanese army deployed to take control of the region. The process was set to conclude within 60 days, with the deadline falling on Sunday at 4am local time (2am GMT).
However, Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel would not meet the deadline for troop withdrawal, citing the Lebanese government’s failure to fully enforce the agreement. Israeli forces will remain in the region until the Lebanese army effectively deploys in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani river. The statement did not specify how much longer Israeli forces would remain in the area.
In response, Hezbollah condemned the delay as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and warned that the Lebanese state would need to address the situation through “all means and methods guaranteed by international charters.”
Israel’s military operation against Hezbollah aimed to ensure the return of tens of thousands of Israeli citizens who had been displaced due to Hezbollah rocket fire. The Israeli offensive dealt severe blows to Hezbollah, killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and thousands of its fighters, while claiming to have destroyed much of the group’s weapons stockpile.
The situation was further complicated when Hezbollah’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown in December, severing Hezbollah’s land supply route from Iran. There was no immediate comment from either Lebanon or Hezbollah following Netanyahu’s announcement.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, confirmed that Israeli forces were in the process of pulling back, while the Lebanese army was targeting Hezbollah’s weapons storage locations. He added that more time was needed to see significant results from the ongoing process.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned that any escalation of hostilities would be devastating for the already vulnerable civilian population. Over 100,000 people remain displaced across Lebanon, and the presence of Israeli troops has hindered the return of civilians to their homes. The NRC called for continued mediation to ensure the ceasefire leads to a lasting peace and the protection of civilians and infrastructure.
