The White House said Sunday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until Feb. 18, after Israel requested more time to withdraw
The warning came a day after Israel said its forces would remain in south Lebanon beyond a Sunday deadline for their departure.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but Israel says that Hezbollah hasn’t upheld its promise and that the Lebanese Army isn’t ready to fill the void.
The Lebanese army on Saturday said it was ready to deploy its forces in the country's south, accusing Israel of "procrastination" in its withdrawal in time for a deadline the following day.
Lebanon’s prime minister-designate has vowed to rebuild the country following years of economic meltdown and a 14-month war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group
The Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire.
Israeli officials have said Lebanese troops are not deploying fast enough in the areas Israeli troops are supposed to vacate.
Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Lebanon, his first in more than four years, follows a 60-day ceasefire deal that aims to end the war.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Thursday that the oil-rich kingdom stands by Lebanon, but stressed that the war-ravaged, crisis-ridden country needs to adopt necessary reforms.
For a second day, Lebanese were defying Israeli warnings and attempting to reach southern border towns that remained occupied by Israeli troops. At least two people were injured, officials said.