US CONFIRMS ISRAEL, LEBANON HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR ISRAELI TROOP WITHDRAWAL TO FEB. 18

Middle East World

Mon 27 January 2025:

The US confirmed Sunday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to an extension of the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon until Feb. 18.

The agreement, which was reached after Israel requested more time to pull out beyond the 60 days stipulated, aims to ensure continued stability between the two countries.

“The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel, and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023,” the White House said in a statement.

The US pledged $117 million in security assistance to Lebanon to support the implementation of a cease-fire with Israel.

However, the Israeli army committed eight cease-fire violations in Lebanon last week, bringing the total to 629 breaches since an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement took effect on Nov. 27.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and the Hezbollah group that began on Oct. 8, 2023 and escalated into a full-scale conflict on Sept. 23 last year.

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Lebanon commits to truce extension with Israel

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati says Lebanon has agreed to extend the ceasefire agreement with Israel until February 18.

The move came after a day of violence in which Israeli forces shot at Lebanese people trying to return to their homes in southern Lebanon, killing at least 22 and wounding dozens more.

According to the ceasefire deal announced between Israel and Hezbollah in November, Israeli troops had been due to withdraw from southern Lebanon on Sunday.

“The Lebanese government reaffirms its commitment… to continue implementing the ceasefire agreement until February 18, 2025,” Mikati said in a statement, according to the AFP news agency.

Earlier, we reported that the White House had said an agreement had been reached to extend the Israel-Lebanon deal until February 18.

US to start talks to free Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati says the United States will begin negotiations to return citizens being held in Israeli prisons.

The detainees were arrested by Israel after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks, Israel’s war on Gaza, and Israel’s parallel war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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