- Lebanon and Israel agree to extend the truce until February 18, following US mediation.
- Lebanese health ministry claims 22 killed, 124 wounded by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
- Israeli troops remain deployed, citing incomplete Hezbollah withdrawal per ceasefire terms.
The United States and Lebanon have announced an extension of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, which was initially set to expire on Sunday. The truce will now remain in effect until February 18.
The agreement, which ended 14 months of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, originally stipulated that Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah was required to end its armed presence in the area.
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However, Israel maintained its troops past the deadline, citing Lebanon’s failure to fully enforce the terms of the deal.
On Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 22 civilians were killed and 124 injured by Israeli soldiers as they attempted to return to their homes in southern Lebanon.
Israel’s military claimed to have fired “warning shots” and apprehended individuals it said posed an “imminent threat.”
The ceasefire, brokered by the US and France and announced by then-President Joe Biden in November, was intended as a “permanent cessation of hostilities.”
However, Israel stated on Friday that the agreement’s conditions had not been fully met, prompting its decision to keep forces in place.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that US-mediated discussions have extended the truce and negotiations for the release of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023, will soon begin.
The conflict, which escalated in September, has caused widespread devastation. Israeli military actions, including airstrikes and a ground invasion resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths, displaced over 1.2 million people in Lebanon, and targeted Hezbollah’s senior leadership.
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Hezbollah’s involvement in the hostilities began in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7.
Israel has stated its military campaign aimed to secure the border, remove Hezbollah from strategic areas, and facilitate the return of displaced Israeli residents.
