Lebanese army criticized Israel for delaying the withdrawal process from the southern region amidst the ceasefire conditions
The Lebanese army announced its readiness to deploy troops along the southern border adjacent to the Israeli-occupied territories. The move comes amid criticism of Tel Aviv's regime for alleged "procrastination" in meeting the military withdrawal deadline set for the following day.
The army issued a statement on Saturday citing delays at various stages due to the Israeli side’s procrastination in the withdrawal process.
The organization affirmed its preparedness to resume deployment once Israeli forces have withdrawn from the area.
The military has issued a warning to civilians, advising them to exercise caution when returning to the southern border regions. This advisory comes in light of the discovery of landmines and unidentified objects reportedly abandoned by Israeli forces in the area.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that Israeli forces will continue their presence in southern Lebanon past the Sunday deadline outlined in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
The accord, finalized in late November of the previous year, stipulated a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, which is set to conclude this Sunday, marking the end of the 60-day deadline.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will not comply with the specified deadline, citing that the Lebanese armed forces have not yet achieved comprehensive control over the area, and Hezbollah fighters have not entirely retreated to positions north of the Litani River.
According to the statement, Israel will proceed with a phased withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon, citing the Lebanese government’s partial implementation of the ceasefire agreement as a factor in the decision, rather than adhering to the initial deadline for a full pullout.
Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah after experiencing significant losses over nearly 14 months of conflict, during which it was unable to meet its objectives in Lebanon.
A ceasefire agreement was enacted on November 27, with a duration of 60 days, aimed at facilitating negotiations towards a lasting resolution to the conflict.
In accordance with the accord, an international oversight committee led by the United States has been assigned the responsibility of supervising the enforcement of the ceasefire.
