Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israel will not complete its full withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the 60-day deadline set under the ceasefire deal with the Hezbollah terror group.
Under the terms of the November 27 truce agreement that ended the fighting started by Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces is required to cede all of its positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces by January 26. At the same time, Hezbollah is required to retreat north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border with Israel.
In the first public confirmation of such a delay, following weeks of speculation, Netanyahu’s office declared in a statement that “the IDF’s withdrawal process is conditional,” citing what he said are Lebanon’s and Hezbollah’s obligations under the agreement, though the Iran-backed terrorist organization is not a party to the deal signed between Jerusalem and Beirut.
Netanyahu said that since Lebanon “has not yet fully enforced” its obligations under the ceasefire, “the phased withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States.” The original 60-day deadline was slated for Sunday, January 26.
The prime minister said that the terms of the deal were worded “with the understanding that the withdrawal process may continue beyond 60 days.”
The deal’s text says that the withdrawal process “should not exceed 60 days.”
Hezbollah weapons were found by IDF troops in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on January 23, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
In recent weeks, however, Israel assessed that the Lebanese army has deployed too slowly across the region, delaying the IDF’s withdrawal as a result. Israeli soldiers are continuing to find Hezbollah weapons caches in areas covered by the truce, and army officials have reportedly said that Lebanon’s army is in some locations helping Hezbollah.
The Haaretz daily similarly reported on Thursday that the US and France were discussing the requested extension with Israeli and Lebanese officials. The source assessed that France saw no issue with granting the extension, so long as the other parties were in agreement.
However, also Thursday, Army Radio reported that US President Donald Trump’s administration was less inclined to grant a 30-day reprieve than was his predecessor Joe Biden, and wanted the full withdrawal completed by Sunday. During his first phone call with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, new Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday praised Israel’s “ongoing efforts to implement” the ceasefire ahead of the looming deadline.
The IDF is currently deployed to several villages in southern Lebanon, mostly in the eastern sector. The Lebanese Armed Forces have deployed to villages in the western sector in recent weeks as the IDF has withdrawn.
The Israeli military is preparing for the possibility of renewed hostilities with Hezbollah. The Iran-backed terror group warned yesterday that it would not accept the IDF staying in southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day limit.
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