This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – Israel reportedly requested an extra 30 days to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire between itself and Hezbollah, amid murmurings U.S. President Donald Trump is determined to rebuff the plea and keep to the current timeline, which would see the IDF vacate the area on Sunday.
The Nov. 27 truce agreement at least paused if not ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which started when the Lebanese Iranian proxy group – although in reality at the time the forwardmost unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps – began firing missiles into northern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The attacks were in support of Hamas' brutal onslaught across the southern border and the truce deal was supposed to see the IDF cede all of its positions in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces. In tandem, Hezbollah is required to retreat north of the Litani River, some 18 miles from the Israel's northern border.
Israel's political and security cabinets are due to convene this evening local time to discuss the ceasefire agreement, and the fear the country's leadership has about numerous aspects of the situation. One of the concerns is the pace at which the Lebanese Army, which is a distant second in terms of power compared with Hezbollah, is deploying across the region. The IDF, having taken these areas in tough fighting against experienced and seasoned Hezbollah fighters, is understandably loath to surrender these positions in the knowledge the terrorist organization will likely overpower the Lebanese Army and take them back anyway.
In addition, IDF soldiers are continuing to uncover Hezbollah weapons caches in areas covered by the truce, amid IDF reports Lebanon's military is in some locations providing succor for the Iranian proxy.
"Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is entitled to act against immediate threats posed by Hezbollah, but must forward complaints about longer-term threats to an oversight committee composed of representatives from the U.S., France, Lebanon, and the international observer force UNIFIL," according to the Times of Israel.
According to Israel's outgoing ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog – brother of the country's president Isaac – Jerusalem and Washington are in talks to delay Israel's withdrawal. He said he believed the two would "reach an understanding," although this did not seem to be the messaging emanating from the White House, according to Israeli radio.
Israel intimated it had such an understanding with the recently replaced Biden administration and clearly hoped this – in conjunction with what it says is clear evidence of Hezbollah's consistent breaking of the terms – would secure it more time to try and secure its border, and with many thousands of the country's northern residents yet to return to their homes.
