Trump is opposed to it but Israeli envoy says approval is ‘likely’
Times of Israel
Israel is ‘requesting’ the United States for an additional 30 days to carry out the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon, according to Hebrew media reports Thursday, days ahead of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the fragile ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
Under the terms of the November 27 truce agreement that ended a war started by Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces is required to cede all of its positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces by January 26. At the same time, Hezbollah is required to retreat north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border with Israel.
In recent weeks, however, Israel has assessed that the Lebanese army has deployed too slowly across the region, delaying the IDF’s withdrawal as a result. IDF soldiers are continuing to find Hezbollah weapons caches in areas covered by the truce, and army officials have reportedly said that Lebanon’s army is in some locations helping the Iran-backed terror group.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is entitled to act against immediate threats posed by Hezbollah, but must forward complaints about longer-term threats to an oversight committee composed of representatives from the US, France, Lebanon, and the international observer force UNIFIL.
Israel has asked the committee for additional time to withdraw fully, but over the next three days will pull out of northern and western areas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar outlet claimed.
Lebanon’s newly installed President Joseph Aoun has been in contact with US and French officials, urging them to ensure that Israel withdraws on time, the report said. Sources said that Lebanese officials notified US counterparts that Israel’s failure to withdraw would hamper the deployment of Lebanon’s own army to those areas. However, the report didn’t address the issue of Hezbollah’s withdrawal.
Responding to Israel’s request, Hezbollah called on ‘everyone, especially the political authority in Lebanon,’ to pressure countries overseeing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon to ensure that the IDF withdraws at the end of the 60-day truce, which is on Sunday.
In a statement, Hezbollah said if Israel stays in south Lebanon beyond the 60 days, it would be ‘considered a flagrant violation of the agreement and an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty.’
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Haaretz daily similarly reported that the US and France are discussing the requested extension with Israeli and Lebanese officials. The source assessed that France sees no issue with granting the extension, so long as the other parties are in agreement.
Earlier, Army Radio reported that US President Donald Trump’s administration is less inclined to grant a 30-day reprieve than was his predecessor Joe Biden, and wants the full withdrawal completed by Sunday.
Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US Michael Herzog nevertheless told the radio network that he believed Jerusalem and Washington would ‘reach an understanding’ on the matter and that the extension would be granted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly to hold a meeting of the security cabinet about the withdrawal date on Thursday evening.
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 forced to evacuate due to Hezbollah attacks.
Head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council Moshe Davidovich told the Kan public broadcaster that he is in favor of the IDF staying put in a number of 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.’
‘At the moment, it is not right to withdraw,’ he said. ‘A firm stand by the IDF on both sides of the border will give us, the council chiefs, the ability to install confidence in our residents and tell that they can return home without fear.’
Meanwhile, IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon were continuing to find weapons and Hezbollah infrastructure, the military said.
The IDF said troops of the 7th Armored Brigade, during scans in south Lebanon, found Russian-made anti-tank missiles, grenades, and assault rifles.
Additionally, in a joint operation with the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, the army said troops found several tunnels belonging to Hezbollah, some of which were used as weapon depots.
The weapons were seized and infrastructures were demolished.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire hundreds of times with terror operatives moving ammunition, attempting to attack Israeli soldiers, and preparing to launch rockets toward northern Israel among other things.
With the exit deadline approaching, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told a visiting UN envoy to Lebanon on Wednesday that Israel will uphold the agreement as long as its security is maintained.
‘I emphasized that Israel is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement, but will not compromise on its security,’ Sa’ar said of his meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis. ‘There is an opportunity for Lebanon to break free from the Iranian occupation and build a better future.’
The war in Lebanon was sparked when Hezbollah, unprovoked, began firing at Israel on a near-daily basis on October 8, 2023, a day after fellow Iran-backed terror group Hamas stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, starting the war in Gaza.