Lebanon, Israel extend ceasefire to February 18, start talks on prisoner return

Ceasefire faces challenges with 629 Israeli violations, but Lebanon remains committed.

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Lebanon and Israel have agreed to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon until February 18, 2025, with the confirmation coming from the United States.

In a statement, the White House announced that the US would facilitate negotiations between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States regarding the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after the events of October 7, 2023.

Lebanon also confirmed that it would continue to honor the ceasefire agreement with Israel, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati reaffirming Lebanon’s commitment to implementing the ceasefire until February 18, 2025.

Mikati made the announcement after consultations with Lebanon's president and parliamentary leaders, following discussions with the American party overseeing the agreement.

The agreement to extend the withdrawal deadline was reached after Israel requested more time beyond the original 60-day stipulation.

The aim is to maintain stability between the two nations. In support of the ceasefire, the US pledged $117 million in security assistance to Lebanon.

However, the ceasefire has faced challenges due to repeated violations by Israel. The Israeli army committed eight ceasefire violations in Lebanon last week, bringing the total to 629 breaches since the ceasefire was implemented on November 27, 2023.

Despite these violations, Lebanon has remained committed to the fragile ceasefire, which ended the mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that had intensified after the escalation of hostilities on September 23, 2023.