Israeli army soldiers and a tank in areas they still occupied in southern Lebanon, on Jan. 28, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — According to Israeli reports, The United States currently opposes Israel’s request to delay the full withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon beyond the Feb. 18 deadline, which has already been extended by three weeks as part of the cease-fire agreement.
Israel has asked Washington, its key ally, for permission to maintain its occupation at five strategic points along the border, according to reports from Reuters and Israeli Channel 12 on Monday. Channel 14 on Tuesday cited a broader request for “five to seven” positions. Channel 12 also reported that Israel justifies this request by again accusing the Lebanese Army of delays in deploying in the South and failing to prevent Hezbollah from reorganizing and maintaining a presence south of the Litani River — two key provisions of the cease-fire agreement signed on Nov. 27 between Israel and Lebanon, which is based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war.
According to our regional correspondent, Israeli forces remain heavily deployed in border villages in the Marjayoun district — Blida, Markaba, Odaisseh, Houla, Kfar Kila, Wazzani, and the Hamames hill — which overlook the strategically important "Finger of Galilee," also known as the Galilee Panhandle, in northern Israel. Israeli troops are also stationed at other key elevated locations, including Yaroun and Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil district), Jabal Balat, Labouneh (Sour district), and the disputed Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shuba hills (Hasbaya district).
Other Israeli media mention the request for an additional extension until February 28, formally addressed to the president of the ceasefire monitoring committee, U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, or until March 1, the scheduled date for the return of residents of northern Israeli localities to their homes, reported the right-wing Israeli daily Maariv on February 10.
Some Israeli media outlets have reported that Israel has formally requested an extension until Feb. 28, or possibly March 1, which coincides with the planned return of residents to northern Israel, according to the right-wing Israeli daily Maariv on Feb. 10.
The Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X Wednesday that "the implementation period of the [cease-fire] agreement has been extended ... you are prohibited from returning to your homes in the affected areas until further notice," adding that "whoever moves in this area endangers themselves."
Reuters, citing an anonymous Lebanese official and a foreign diplomat, reported Wednesday that Israel has requested to keep troops at five positions in southern Lebanon until Feb. 28. However, the Lebanese delegation in the cease-fire monitoring committee — comprising representatives from the U.S., France, the Israeli army, Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) — has categorically rejected the request, LBCI reported Wednesday, without citing sources.
American refusal… for now?
While confirming Israel’s request for another extension, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Times of Israel on Tuesday that Washington "for now" opposes the delay and intends to adhere to the Feb. 18 deadline. U.S. Deputy Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus reiterated that stance during her visit to Lebanon last week.
Yet some ambiguity remains. According to The Jerusalem Post, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that “Israel’s withdrawal remains on schedule,” while Israeli officials reportedly said discussions with Washington are ongoing to “improve the situation on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Maariv reported that Israel is preparing to treat any demonstrations by southern Lebanese residents at the border as a "security threat." On Nov. 26, the Israeli army killed 22 Lebanese civilians, including one soldier, and injured 124 others as they attempted to return to their homes in border villages. The Israeli military had been set to withdraw from those areas that day, but the withdrawal was postponed on that day to Feb. 18.
Against this backdrop, speculation has grown over the possible return of U.S. Deputy Envoy Morgan Ortagus to Lebanon. According to ministerial sources cited by al-Joumhouria, she is expected to visit before the end of the week, with her agenda focused on ensuring Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the Feb. 18 deadline.
