Israel to Stay in Southern Lebanon After Deadline Citing Hezbollah Violations
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel has asked the U.S. for 30 more days to complete its troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, just days before the 60-day ceasefire deadline with Hezbollah. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will remain beyond day 60, the length of their stay is unclear. The situation was discussed by Israel’s defense officials and government on Thursday. This Sunday marks 60 days since the ceasefire began on November 27.
Under the current ceasefire agreement, the IDF must hand over all positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces by January 26. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is obligated to retreat north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Israeli border. Currently, Israel can respond to immediate threats from Hezbollah but must forward concerns about longer-term threats to an oversight committee made up of representatives from the U.S., France, Lebanon, and the UNIFIL international observer force.
Israel has requested more time from the committee to complete its withdrawal, but according to Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar outlet, it will begin pulling out of northern and western areas over the next three days.
Lebanon’s new President, Joseph Aoun, has urged U.S. and French officials to ensure Israel withdraws on time. Lebanese sources said Israel’s failure to do so would hinder Lebanon’s army deployment, but the report did not address Hezbollah’s withdrawal.
In response to Israel’s request, Hezbollah called on “everyone, especially the political authority in Lebanon,” to pressure the countries overseeing the ceasefire agreement to ensure the IDF withdraws by the end of the 60-day truce on Sunday. Hezbollah added that if Israel remains in southern Lebanon beyond the 60 days, it would be “considered a flagrant violation of the agreement and an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty.”
However, Israel has determined that the Lebanese army’s slow deployment in the region has delayed the IDF’s withdrawal.
Israel’s security cabinet met on Thursday to discuss how long Israel should remain in southern Lebanon, given Lebanon’s failure to fully uphold its part of the agreement.
IDF soldiers continue to discover Hezbollah weapon caches in areas covered by the truce, and reports suggest that in some locations, Lebanon’s army is aiding the Iran-backed group.
Northern regional council chiefs have called for the IDF to remain in Lebanon to ensure the safe return of tens of thousands of residents who were evacuated due to Hezbollah attacks. Moshe Davidovich, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, told the Israel’s Kan public broadcaster that he supports the IDF staying in key locations “until we understand that Hezbollah will not return to the south of the country [Lebanon], until we understand that a weapons arsenal doesn’t again trickle to Israel’s northern border.”
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