The Lebanese army on Saturday said it was ready to deploy its forces in the country’s south, accusing Israel of procrastination in its withdrawal under a ceasefire, a day before the pullout deadline.
It was gathered that under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that came into effect on 27 November, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period that ends on Sunday.
Additionally, Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River — about 30 kilometres from the Israeli border — and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
There has been a delay at a number of stages as a result of procrastination in the withdrawal by the Israeli enemy,” the army said in a statement.
It also expressed its readiness to continue its deployment as soon as the Israeli enemy withdraws.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday said that the military’s withdrawal would continue beyond the Sunday deadline.
The withdrawal process is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, with Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River.
Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.
Ceasefire mediators, the United States and France, have helped monitor its implementation.
The accusation from the Lebanese army comes after UN chief António Guterres, on 17 January, called for Israel to end its occupation.
