ALBAWABA - The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the Israeli army will stay in southern Lebanon over the 60-day truce period set out in the agreement with Lebanon.
"The gradual withdrawal process will continue beyond the 60 days due to the incomplete implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon," Netanyahu's office stated in a statement. The withdrawal procedure is being coordinated with the U.S. government, the statement said.
Despite the truce deadline passing on Sunday, political leadership has instructed the army to continue its presence in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. Nonetheless, in compliance with the agreement reached with the Lebanese government, the military has started to redeploy in the western sector.
Israel is reportedly negotiating a longer timeframe to finish the pullout with the next U.S. administration, which may take days or weeks. In the meanwhile, efforts are in motion to fix the border in the Metula region and build security stations close to Israeli border towns.
Hezbollah responded by urging the state to use all possible measures to retake its land and warning that any delay in the departure will be seen as a breach of Lebanon's sovereignty and the ceasefire deal.
