JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Friday that there is a possibility Israel will not completely withdraw its forces from Lebanon by the deadline outlined in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. It appears that Washington is ready to advocate for an extension of the withdrawal timeline.
As per the ceasefire deal established in November, Israel is expected to finalize its withdrawal from Lebanon by Sunday. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters are required to retreat to the area north of the Litani River, while Lebanese armed forces are expected to patrol the buffer zone in southern Lebanon along with United Nations peacekeepers.
In his statement, Netanyahu remarked that the ceasefire “is based on the understanding that the withdrawal process could potentially extend beyond the 60 days.” He also noted that the Lebanese government has not yet “fully enforced” the terms of the agreement, hinting at the delay in deploying Lebanese troops.
Recently, Israeli officials have engaged in discussions with the United States, the country that facilitated the ceasefire along with France. The Trump administration has expressed its belief that “a short, temporary ceasefire extension is urgently needed” in Lebanon, according to National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes.
Hughes emphasized that “President Trump is committed to ensuring that Israeli citizens can safely return to their homes in northern Israel,” while also supporting the newly constituted Lebanese government led by President Michel Aoun. He added, “All parties share the goal of ensuring Hezbollah does not have the capability to threaten the Lebanese population or their neighbors.” Hughes also noted satisfaction with the commencement of the Israel Defense Forces’ withdrawal from central regions of Lebanon.
There has not been an immediate reaction from Lebanese officials or Hezbollah in response to Netanyahu’s remarks. The Lebanese government has maintained that it cannot deploy its forces in certain areas until Israeli troops have left. Hezbollah has cautioned that it might resume hostilities if Israel fails to comply with the ceasefire agreement regarding its withdrawal from Lebanon.
Following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah commenced launching rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel. Hezbollah and Hamas, both allied with Iran, stated that their actions were in support of the Palestinian cause.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for over a year. The situation escalated significantly in September when Israel executed extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hezbollah’s foremost leader, Hassan Nasrallah, along with most of his senior officials. Israeli ground troops invaded Lebanon shortly thereafter.
The Israeli military operations caused over 4,000 casualties in Lebanon, with hundreds being civilians. During the peak of the conflict, more than 1 million Lebanese were displaced from their homes. In northern Israel, Hezbollah’s rocket attacks led to the displacement of approximately 60,000 individuals and resulted in 76 fatalities, including 31 soldiers. Additionally, nearly 50 Israeli soldiers lost their lives during military operations carried out within Lebanon.
