The United States has confirmed that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon until February 18. This extension comes after Israel requested more time beyond the initial 60-day period set for the pullout. The move aims to maintain stability between the two nations, reports Al Jazeera.
According to a White House statement, the agreement also includes negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners who were captured after October 7, 2023. Additionally, the U.S. has pledged $117 million in security assistance to Lebanon to support the ceasefire implementation.
Despite the extension, Israel’s army has violated the ceasefire multiple times, with eight violations reported last week, bringing the total to 629 breaches since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on November 27. The fragile ceasefire follows a period of intense shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into full-scale conflict in September 2023.
