White House Announces Extension of Cease-Fire Agreement Between Lebanon and Israel Until Feb. 18
WASHINGTON—The United States confirmed on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and Israel would stay in effect until February 18, following Israel’s announcement on Friday of extending troop presence in the south past the U.S.-brokered cease-fire deadline that ended last year’s conflict with Hezbollah.
In a statement, the White House stated, “The oversight of the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, conducted by the United States, will continue until February 18, 2025.”
The Hezbollah–Israel conflict ran concurrently with the Gaza war, culminating in a significant Israeli offensive displacing over a million in Lebanon and significantly weakening the Iran-backed group.
Israel has not disclosed the duration of its troops remaining in the south, where they claim to have been seizing Hezbollah armaments and dismantling its infrastructure.
Israel’s military operation against Hezbollah aimed to facilitate the return of thousands of Israelis forced from their border homes by Hezbollah missile attacks.
Hezbollah initiated hostilities in support of its ally Hamas at the beginning of the Gaza war on October 8, 2023.
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The White House also disclosed that negotiations between the governments of Lebanon, Israel, and the United States will commence for the “repatriation of Lebanese prisoners captured post October 7, 2023.”
