Hezbollah does not accept extension to Israel's withdrawal

28/1/2025 6:09

Lebanese Hezbollah chief Naim

Qassem said on Monday that the group would not accept any

justifications to extend the period for Israeli troops'

withdrawal from southern Lebanon.



"What comes after the period given for Israel's withdrawal?

Israel has to withdraw because the 60 days are over. We do not

accept any justification to extend for one moment or one day,"

he said in a recorded televised address.



Israel said on Friday that its army's withdrawal would last

beyond the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement

with the Lebanese group, saying the terms of the deal had not

been fully enforced by the Lebanese state.



The U.S. said on Sunday the agreement between Lebanon and

Israel would remain in effect until Feb. 18, an extension to the

Jan. 26 deadline previously agreed.



Qassem said in his speech that the group received

information that Washington initially proposed to Lebanese

officials to extend the deal to Feb. 28, which he said they

rejected.



Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said during a

meeting with U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson that the country

accepted adhering to the ceasefire agreement with Israel until

Feb. 18.



Mikati said that requires pressure to end the Israeli

"aggression and repeated violations" and to secure Israel's

complete withdrawal from the occupied territories in the south,

in return, his office said in a statement on Monday.



"Nobody in Lebanon can accept the extension (of Israeli

troops withdrawal) for one moment. Israel must get out," Qassem

said.



"Any repercussions of the withdrawal's delay will be the

responsibility of the U.N., the U.S., France and the Israeli

entity," he added.



He also said the "resistance" has the right to act in what

it deems appropriate in response to the "occupation".



Israeli forces killed at least 24 people and wounded at

least 141 others in southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, the

Lebanese health ministry said, as thousands of people tried to

return to their homes in the area in defiance of Israeli

military orders.



On the Lebanese cabinet formation, Hezbollah's chief said

things were going well with the country prime minister and

president, adding that the "complications" of forming the

cabinet were not because of the group.



In early January, lawmakers elected army chief Joseph Aoun

as head of state, filling the vacant presidency with a general

who has U.S. approval and showing the diminished sway of the

Iran-backed group after its devastating war with Israel.



Government formation discussions are often protracted in

Lebanon, due to bartering among its sectarian factions over

cabinet positions.