Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, Friday, that Israel may not withdraw all its forces from Lebanon by the specified deadline The ceasefire with HezbollahWashington appears to be ready to extension.
under The agreement was reached in NovemberIsrael is supposed to complete its withdrawal from the country by Sunday. Hezbollah fighters must withdraw to the north of the Litani River Lebanese armed forces It will take patrols in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon, along with the United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Netanyahu said in a statement that the ceasefire “is based on understanding that the withdrawal can continue after sixty days.” The statement added that the Lebanese government has not yet “applied” the agreement, in a clear indication of the deployment of the Lebanese forces.
Israeli officials have had talks in recent days with the United States, which mediated in agreement with France.
National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement on Friday that the Trump administration believes that “there is an urgent need for a short and temporary extension of the ceasefire” in Lebanon.
The statement stated that “President Trump is committed to ensuring the return of Israeli citizens safely to their homes in northern Israel,” while also supports the new Lebanese government headed by President Michel Aoun.
“All parties participate in the goal of ensuring that Hezbollah does not have the ability to threaten the Lebanese people or their neighbors,” Hughes said. He said that the United States is “pleased because the Israeli army began to withdraw from the central regions.”
There was no immediate response to Netanyahu’s statement from Lebanon or Hezbollah.
