Report: IDF may remain in Lebanon beyond ceasefire

Amid concerns Lebanese army is dragging its feet in redeployment to southern Lebanon and following discoveries of hidden Hezbollah weapon caches, Israel reportedly mulls extending its stay in Lebanon beyond deadline.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli military may stay in southern Lebanon beyond the deadline for its withdrawal, according to a report Sunday morning.

On November 27th, a 60-day ceasefire – brokered by France and the United States – went into effect in Lebanon, ostensibly halting the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, after nearly 14 months of fighting.

Throughout the truce, however, Israel has continued to use military force against Hezbollah forces, accusing the Shi’ite group of violating the agreement.

Hezbollah terrorists have also launched attacks on Israel during the ceasefire, including a bombardment of the Har Dov area.

Now, Jerusalem is considering extending the IDF’s deployment in southern Lebanon beyond the January 27th deadline, which under the November agreement was to have marked the end of Israel’s presence in Lebanese territory.

However, according to an Israel Hayom report, Israeli leaders are dismayed by the “sluggish deployment” of the Lebanese military in southern Lebanon, calling into question Beirut’s commitment to its obligations under the November agreement to police all of Lebanese territory and ensure the withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from the area south of the Litani River.

Israel, the report said, is uncertain whether the delays are the result of the Lebanese army’s inability to undertake a large redeployment – or if instead it is a sign of Beirut’s unwillingness to confront Hezbollah, a powerful political and paramilitary force in the country with strong backing from Iran.

Jerusalem has repeatedly registered complaints with international observers over the Lebanese army’s failure to meet deadlines for its south Lebanon deployment.

In addition, Israeli forces have uncovered extensive Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons caches in southern Lebanon over the weekend, fueling concerns that a significant portion of the terror group’s military capacity has yet to be discovered.

Adding to this reports that Iran is considering opening direct air supply routes to Hezbollah via Beirut’s international airport, Israel’s top brass is increasingly concerned a January withdrawal from southern Lebanon could enable Hezbollah to reestablish itself on Israel’s northern border.

Israel has yet to decide whether to extend the IDF’s deployment in Lebanon, however, and Jerusalem is planning to discuss the possibility with both the outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration, which is set to take office a week before the January 27th deadline.