The United States and Lebanon have announced that the ceasefire agreement with Israel, initially set to expire on Sunday, has been extended until mid-February.
Israel has maintained its troop presence in Lebanon past the agreed-upon deadline, citing the Lebanese government’s failure to fully adhere to the terms of the agreement, which mandated the withdrawal of Hezbollah from the region.
On Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli soldiers killed 22 individuals and injured 124 others as they attempted to return to their homes in the southern region of the country.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the truce will be extended until February 18 after discussions with the United States.
The ceasefire plan, unveiled in late November, marked a significant halt to 14 months of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.
An agreement facilitated by the United States and France mandates Hezbollah to cease its armed presence in southern Lebanon within 60 days while also requiring Israeli forces to withdraw during the same timeframe.
In a formal announcement, then-President Joe Biden stated that the initiative was intended to end hostilities between the two parties.
On Friday, just two days ahead of the deadline, Israel announced that specific soldiers would continue to be stationed in the region, citing that the ceasefire agreement had “yet to be fully enforced by the Lebanese state.”
On Sunday, the White House announced that the deadline has been extended to February 18, and negotiations are set to commence regarding the return of Lebanese prisoners taken after October 7, 2023.
In a notable development, thousands of Lebanese residents have made their way back to towns and villages close to the border following the agreement, even as concerns persist regarding the area’s safety.
On Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli soldiers had killed 22 individuals in the region.
The Israeli military reported that it had discharged “warning shots in multiple areas,” though it did not clarify whether there were any casualties. Additionally, the military apprehended several individuals it asserted posed an “imminent threat.”
The enduring struggle between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran, intensified in September of last year. The situation escalated into a significant Israeli air campaign throughout Lebanon, accompanied by a ground invasion in the southern region of the country and the targeted killings of high-ranking Hezbollah officials.
The military action resulted in approximately 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon, with a significant number of those being civilians, and caused the displacement of over 1.2 million residents.
Israel aims to facilitate the return of approximately 60,000 residents who evacuated from northern communities due to Hezbollah’s assaults while also seeking to eliminate the group’s presence in border regions.
Hezbollah initiated its campaign the day following the Hamas assaults on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, asserting that it was acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
