The White House said on Sunday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until February 18, after Israel requested more time to withdraw beyond the 60-day deadline stipulated in a ceasefire agreement that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war in late November.
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Israel has said it needs to stay longer because the Lebanese army has not deployed to all areas of southern Lebanon to ensure that Hezbollah does not reestablish its presence in the area. The Lebanese army has said it cannot deploy until Israeli forces withdraw.
The White House said in a statement that “the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, will continue to be in effect until February 18, 2025”. It added that the respective governments “will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023”.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli or Lebanese governments. The Lebanese president’s office had put out a statement earlier on Sunday denying that there was an extension.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, held an introductory call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, the Department of Defence said in a statement, adding that Hegseth had stressed that Washington is fully committed to ensuring Israel has the capabilities it needs to defend itself.
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“Both leaders discussed the importance of advancing mutual security interests and priorities, especially in the face of persistent threats,” the statement read.