Netanyahu Announces Postponement of Israeli Army withdrawal from Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israel will not complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the 60-day deadline set by the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "the Israeli army's withdrawal is conditional on the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and the full and effective implementation of the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani River."

The Israeli decision is considered a violation of the stipulated agreement, which stipulates its withdrawal from southern Lebanon within a period of 60 days.

Earlier, the Lebanese army confirmed that "the Israeli enemy continues to persist in violating the ceasefire agreement, attacking Lebanon's sovereignty and citizens, and destroying southern villages and towns."

It is noteworthy that a ceasefire agreement was announced between Lebanon and Israel on November 26, and the ceasefire began to be implemented at dawn the following day.

The agreement stipulates the deployment of the Lebanese army and Lebanese security forces in the southern Lebanon region, and Israel gradually withdrawing its forces from the south towards the Blue Line bordering Israel over a period of up to 60 days. The period of 60 days ends at dawn next Monday.