Israel White House: Ceasefire in Lebanon to be extended

SDA

26.1.2025 - 23:57

A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the end of November. Photo: Bilal Hussein/AP/dpa
A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the end of November. Photo: Bilal Hussein/AP/dpa
Keystone

The ceasefire between Israel and neighboring Lebanon has been extended by a good three weeks. The weapons between the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and the Israeli military are to remain silent until February 18, according to the White House.

Keystone-SDA

A ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hezbollah at the end of November after more than a year of shelling. The agreement originally provided for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon within 60 days. According to the latest Israeli information, however, this will be delayed. Lebanon has not yet fully implemented its part of the agreement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained the decision.

The Lebanese army, which is supposed to ensure compliance with the ceasefire and prevent Hezbollah from returning to the area, is not moving in fast enough. The deadline for the withdrawal of the Israeli army expired at the weekend.

New talks under US mediation

The White House declared that Lebanon, Israel and the USA, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, would begin negotiations on the return of Lebanese prisoners. The talks concern prisoners who were taken into custody after October 7, 2023.

United Nations warns of fragile security situation

Following the expiry of the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops, deadly incidents occurred in southern Lebanon on Sunday. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 22 people were killed by Israeli fire, including one soldier. A further 124 were injured, including nine minors and a paramedic. Residents had tried to return to their homes in the south despite the Israeli troops still stationed there.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) warned that further violence would undermine the fragile security situation. The Israeli military "must avoid firing on civilians in Lebanese territory", warned Unifil. UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said that the conditions in the country did not yet permit the return of residents in the south.

When announcing the ceasefire in November, then US President Joe Biden said that the goal was a "permanent cessation of hostilities". He was optimistic at the time. "Civilians on both sides will soon be able to return safely to their communities and begin rebuilding their homes or schools, their farms and their businesses," Biden continued.