Report: Israeli army plans to remain in Lebanon after 60-day ceasefire period

The Israeli occupation army is planning to remain in southern Lebanon after the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, which entered into force on 27 November, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday.

The paper quoted army sources as saying that the military intends to remain after the two-month period which ends on 27 January, “if the Lebanese army is unable to fulfill its obligations included in the agreement to extend its control over the entire south.”

The sources added that in this case, the Israeli occupation forces will remain in the areas they currently control until the Lebanese army completes its deployment.

According to Haaretz, the army is currently present in all Lebanese villages near the border fence.

The paper added that the army has begun laying the infrastructure for establishing military points along the northern border, noting that some points will be established on the Lebanese side of the border.

The Lebanese army has recently deployed in a number of towns after the Israeli forces withdrew from them.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on the international community, in particular France and the US, to pressure Israel to “accelerate” the withdrawal of its forces from the areas it occupies.

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