Report: Israel to tell US it won't withdraw from Lebanon post 60-day period

Israel is not expected to withdraw its army from south Lebanon when the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement expires, Israel's state-run Public Broadcasting Corporation has reported.

"Israel will inform Washington that it will not pull out because the Lebanese Army is not abiding by the agreement and Hezbollah is reorganizing its ranks," the report said.

"Israel is also expected to tell the United States that it will not allow the residents of the Lebanese towns near the border to return to their homes," the report added.

Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper meanwhile reported that some Lenanese Army officials received "serious signals" from the co-chair of the truce monitoring committee, U.S. general Jasper Jeffers, that "Israel intends to extend the 60-day deadline to 90 days, which might also be extended to April."

"The matter hinges on Israel's realization of its goals as to guaranteeing the elimination of the resistance's abilities to launch an attack," the daily quoted Jeffers as telling the officials.