Israel lobbies Trump to delay withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon
Israel lobbies Trump to delay withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon
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Israeli government seeks to keep military positions in southern Lebanon past deadline agreed in ceasefire deal. Israel is seeking the backing of the Trump administration to delay its military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement stipulating all Israeli troops should leave by Sunday.
![[A Lebanese soldier stands outdoors, photographed through a damaged military vehicle]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6e101a791d13b9b28df0c0d086ae7a9827343c27/0_0_4031_2687/master/4031.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The request for a 30-day extension follows claims that Israel would like to keep up to five outposts in southern Lebanon. Under the agreed ceasefire, which brought an end to the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli forces are supposed to have completed their withdrawal within 60 days, or by a 26 January deadline.
Reports in Israel, however, suggest Trump is reluctant to approve the delay. Confirming Israel’s attempts to extend its occupation of southern Lebanon, the country’s ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, told Israel’s Army Radio this week that it believed more time was required from the Lebanese army to deploy south of the Litani River, suggesting the deal was unchangeable.
“The agreement included a 60-day target for completing the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and for the Lebanese army to take its place, but it isn’t set in stone and was phrased with some flexibility,” Herzog said. “We are in discussions with the Trump administration to extend the time needed to enable the Lebanese Army to truly deploy and fulfil its role under the agreement. These discussions are ongoing.
