Israel, US discussing extending Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

Israel’s ambassador to the United States said Thursday the two countries are in talks about extending the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as a deadline in the ceasefire approaches.

Michael Herzog said in an interview with Israeli Army Radio that he believed Israel would "reach an understanding" with the Trump administration to extend the necessary time for the Lebanese Army to truly deploy and fulfill its role under the agreement. "The incoming administration understands our needs and our position on security, and I believe we will reach an agreement on this issue."

Herzog claimed that "the 60-day timeline is not set in stone and was formulated with some flexibility".

Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended more than a year of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces are supposed to complete their withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Sunday.

Israeli media have reported that Israel reached an understanding with the Biden administration on staying longer but that President Donald Trump is urging it to withdraw on time.

There was no immediate comment from the United States.

Israeli officials have said Lebanese troops are not deploying fast enough in the areas Israeli troops are supposed to vacate. Under the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to patrol a buffer zone in southern Lebanon alongside United Nations peacekeepers.

Hezbollah has threatened to resume its rocket and drone fire if Israel does not withdraw on time. Residents of the border villages, who had been displaced since the war erupted and who could not return to their homes when the ceasefire was reached in late November as Israeli forces remained there, vowed to return to their villages Sunday, even if the Israeli army fails to respect the January 26 withdrawal deadline.