Israeli forces will remain stationed in southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day deadline outlined in the ceasefire agreement with the militant group Hezbollah, according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu attributed the delay to the Lebanese Army’s inability to assume control of regions in southern Lebanon that were previously under Hezbollah’s dominance.
The ceasefire, which marked an end to over a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, officially began on the 27th of November.
In a statement, the Israeli government clarified: “The outline for the ceasefire in Lebanon stipulates that the IDF’s phased withdrawal ‘should’ be implemented within 60 days.
“The clause was worded this way with the understanding that the withdrawal process may continue beyond 60 days.
Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the State of Lebanon, the phased withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States.”