The announcement of the continuation of the ceasefire was preceded on Sunday by fierce clashes between Israeli soldiers and the Lebanese in southern Lebanon.
The United States announced on Sunday that the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been extended until February 18. A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese extremist organization Hezbollah was signed last November.
“The arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, which is overseen by the United States, is in effect until February 18,” the White House said in a statement.
In addition, the statement said that the administrations of Lebanon, Israel and the United States will begin negotiations to return the Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.
Israeli forces still in South Lebanon
Ahead of the announcement of a ceasefire, Israeli forces killed 22 people in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanese officials said, as a deadline for Israeli forces to withdraw expired and thousands tried to return to their homes in defiance of Israeli forces.
According to the Lebanese army, Israel has delayed the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon. Israel, on the other hand, already announced on Friday that its forces will remain in the area despite the withdrawal deadline agreed in the ceasefire agreement.
The conflict between Hezbollah, an extremist organization operating from Lebanon, and Israel has been running parallel to the war in Gaza. More than a million Lebanese have been forced to flee their homes as a result of Israel’s major offensive. The attack is said to have weakened the activities of the extremist organization significantly. Israel has not said how long it plans to keep its forces in southern Lebanon.
Israel has said that with its attacks against Hezbollah, it aims to allow tens of thousands of Israelis to safely return to their homes located on the border. Hezbollah has launched rocket attacks on northern Israel to support its ally, the Palestinian extremist organization Hamas, in the Gaza war.
Sources: Reuters