Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu announced today that the Israeli army will not complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by Jan. 26, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. 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, wrote the Times of Israel.
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.” He claimed that the terms of the deal were worded “with the understanding that the withdrawal process may continue beyond 60 days.” The deal’s text reportedly says that the withdrawal process “should not exceed 60 days.”
