Sat Jan 25 02:29:28 UTC 2025: ## Israel May Extend Lebanon Withdrawal Deadline Amidst Ceasefire Uncertainty
**Jerusalem, January 25, 2025** – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted Friday that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) might not fully withdraw from Lebanon by the Sunday deadline stipulated in the November ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. The statement follows concerns from the Trump administration regarding the implementation of the agreement.
The 60-day ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, requires Israel to withdraw its forces, Hezbollah to retreat north of the Litani River, and the Lebanese army to patrol the border region with UN peacekeepers. However, Netanyahu claims the Lebanese government hasn’t fully met its obligations regarding troop deployment, suggesting a potential delay in the Israeli withdrawal.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that the Trump administration believes a short extension of the ceasefire is urgently needed to ensure the safe return of Israeli citizens from northern Israel. The statement also expressed support for the Lebanese government under President Michel Aoun and a shared goal of preventing Hezbollah from threatening its neighbors. While the US is pleased with the IDF’s initial withdrawal from central regions, there has been no official response from Lebanon or Hezbollah to Netanyahu’s statement.
The Lebanese government maintains it cannot deploy troops until the Israeli withdrawal is complete, while Hezbollah has threatened renewed conflict should Israel fail to meet the deadline. The conflict, sparked by Hezbollah’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, displacing millions. The war intensified in September following Israeli airstrikes that killed Hezbollah’s top leader.
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