No decision made on IDF withdrawal from Lebanon during late-night security cabinet meeting — report

Israel is likely to keep troops stationed in parts of southern Lebanon beyond the deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement signed in November, although the security cabinet has yet to make a decision, Hebrew media outlet Ynet reports, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official.

According to the report, the security cabinet received an overview of the situation on the ground during a lengthy meeting last night but did not come to an agreement as to whether the government should greenlight the IDF’s withdrawal or push for a 30-day extension.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces is required to cede all of its positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces by January 26. However, Israel has reportedly requested a 30-day extension, asserting that the Lebanese army has deployed too slowly across the region, allowing Hezbollah time to regroup.

Speaking to the news outlet ahead of the cabinet meeting, an unnamed senior official assesses that the withdrawal would not be fully carried out by Sunday, and that the IDF would instead keep troops stationed in certain areas for the time being. The official stressed, however, that if it were to do so, it would be in coordination with the US President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Walla news site, meanwhile, reports that Israel has yet to receive the US’s blessing to extend the IDF’s deployment in Lebanon, and talks are ongoing.

The report comes after Army Radio reported yesterday that Trump was less inclined to grant a 30-day reprieve than was his predecessor Joe Biden, and wants the full withdrawal completed by Sunday.

Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US Michael Herzog nevertheless told the radio network that he believes Jerusalem and Washington would “reach an understanding” on the matter.

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