On Thursday, the Israeli government said that the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, isn’t happening quickly enough. This news comes just days before Israel is supposed to finish pulling its soldiers out of southern Lebanon, as decided in the deal.
Last November, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, thanks to the help of American and French officials. This agreement aimed to stop more than a year of fighting. As per the deal, Israeli forces would leave Lebanon while Hezbollah would move out of southern Lebanon in a 60-day timeframe that ends this Sunday.
David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters that there have been some positive steps. He mentioned that the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) are taking over areas where Hezbollah has been stationed, which is part of the agreement. However, Mencer noted that these changes are not happening fast enough and that more work is needed. He did not say if Israel has asked for more time to complete the withdrawal or if they would stay in Lebanon after the end date.
Three diplomats have indicated that Israeli soldiers might still be present in some areas of southern Lebanon after the 60 days are up. A senior political figure in Lebanon mentioned that President Joseph Aoun has been in contact with U.S. and French officials to remind Israel to finish the withdrawal on time.
The Lebanese government has warned American mediators that if Israel doesn’t pull out as promised, it could create challenges for the Lebanese army’s deployment, which would hurt diplomatic efforts and the positive mood in Lebanon since Aoun became president on January 9.
Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad expressed on January 20 that if Israel doesn’t withdraw, it could lead to a new phase of “confronting the Israeli occupation” for all Lebanese people. “This fight is the duty of everyone: the government, the army, the people, political parties, and resistance,” Fayyad said, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
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