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US rejects Israeli request to delay troop pullout from Lebanon: Report
The Times of Israel newspaper is reporting that the Trump administration has denied an Israeli request to further delay the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon.
The Israeli newspaper quoted an anonymous US official.
“The response from Washington is that for now, it plans to stick to the February 18 deadline,” the Times said, citing the US official.
Under the initial terms of the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in late November, Israeli troops were supposed to withdraw from Lebanon by late January. But Netanyahu delayed the pullout accusing Lebanon of not meeting its obligations. The US later announced that the agreement would remain in effect until February 18.
Lebanese authorities say Israel has violated the terms of the truce by continuing to bombard the country and killing dozens of people.
Israel must complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by the deadline, Aoun says
Lebanon’s recently appointed President Joseph Aoun has insisted that Israel must completely withdraw from the country by the ceasefire deadline of February 18, after reports that Israel has requested to keep troops in southern Lebanon until the end of the month.
Lebanon’s National News Agency quoted Aoun as saying that EU countries should “pressure Israel to complete its withdrawal within the deadline of 18 February, and to return the displaced Syrians to their country after the reasons for their remaining in Lebanon no longer exist”.
A Lebanese official and foreign diplomat told the Reuters news agency that Israel has requested to keep its troops in five posts in southern Lebanon until 28 February.
Aoun also reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to a two-state solution for the Palestine-Israel conflict and said he rejected “proposals that lead to any type of displacement of Palestinians from their land or infringement of their legitimate rights enshrined in UN resolutions”.
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