Israeli forces remained on Wednesday stationed in several border villages in the Marjayoun district [Getty]
Israel has formally requested to keep its troops in at least five military posts in southern Lebanon until 28 February, a Lebanese official and a foreign diplomat told Reuters on Wednesday.
The request follows a ceasefire agreement brokered in November between Hezbollah and Israel, which initially mandated an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon by 26 January.
The deadline had already been extended to 18 February, but Israel is now seeking an additional extension via the committee overseeing the ceasefire, the sources said.
Lebanese representatives on the ceasefire oversight committee – which includes officials from the US, France, Israel and UNIFIL – have rejected Israel’s request, according to a report by Lebanese channel LBCI on Wednesday.
The request was reportedly put forward to the ceasefire monitoring committee’s chairman, US General Jasper Jeffers, according to Israeli media.
Israel has requested US approval to keep its forces in “five to seven strategic positions” along the border, according to Israel’s Channel 14.
Meanwhile, the right-wing Israeli daily Maariv reported on Monday that Israel may also seek an extension until 1 March, the date set for the return of northern Israeli residents to their homes.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces remained stationed in several border villages in the Marjayoun district, including Blida, Markaba, Adaisse, Houla, Kfar Kila, Wazzani, and the Hamames hilltop, which overlooks the strategic Galilee in northern Israel, according to Lebanese media.
Israeli forces were also present in Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil district), Jabal Balat, Laboune (Tyre district), and the disputed Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills (Hasbaya district), due to their strategic elevations, reports said.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed on X on Wednesday that Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon beyond the ceasefire implementation period, reinforcing concerns that the withdrawal timeline may continue to shift.
A US official told The Times of Israel on Tuesday that Washington was currently opposed to the extension and wants Israel to withdraw by the agreed deadline on 18 February.
This position was reiterated last week by US Deputy Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, during her visit to Lebanon.
Israel has destroyed huge swathes of southern Lebanon, including homes and infrastructure, both through previous bombing campaigns and deliberate demolitions.
