Hezbollah is lobbying the United States to move beyond the 60 days stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah after Israeli media reported that the regime was working on the United States to keep troops in Lebanon for an additional 30 days. After reporting that they had done so, they issued a warning.
“Violation of the 60-day deadline would constitute a blatant violation of the agreement and a continuation of the attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Hezbollah said.
“Such actions mark the beginning of a new occupational phase that requires states to respond using all means and methods provided by international charters… to take back their lands.”
Hezbollah opened a support front for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after Israel unleashed a genocidal war in the besieged territory on October 7, 2023, launching numerous retaliatory attacks against targets in the occupied territories.
Israel was forced to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah on November 27, 2024, failing to achieve its goals despite suffering heavy battlefield losses and killing more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.
The deal gives Israel a 60-day period ending on January 26 to withdraw its forces from the occupied town and hand over control to the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Also in its statement, Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government to press its side to oversee a cease-fire agreement to ensure that a 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops is met.
It also called for close monitoring of the final stages of the withdrawal, the full deployment of the Lebanese Army, and the prompt return of displaced populations.
“Breach of the contract…will not be accepted,” the resistance group added. “Attempts to evade these obligations under flimsy pretexts will not be tolerated. We demand strict adherence to the agreement without concessions of any kind.”
Earlier, Israel’s Channel 13 News reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested that US President Donald Trump’s administration be allowed to continue occupying five military outposts in Lebanon after the withdrawal deadline.
Israel Army Radio said the Trump administration expects Israel to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and complete the withdrawal by Sunday.
Michael Herzog, the outgoing US ambassador to Israel, said he believed Tel Aviv and Washington would “reach an understanding” on the issue and that he believed an extension would be granted.
Over the past two months, Israel has violated its ceasefire with Hezbollah by launching numerous attacks on Lebanon.
MNA