Lebanon confirms adhering to ceasefire agreement until Feb. 18
BEIRUT – Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, held talks on Monday with outgoing Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, over the latest developments in the south and the outcome of the ongoing contacts aimed at ensuring the complete “Israeli” withdrawal from the occupied villages, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
The U.S. said on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and “Israel” would remain in effect until Feb. 18, after the Zionist occupation decided to keep troops in the south beyond the Sunday deadline set out in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
“The arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, will continue to be in effect until February 18, 2025,” the White House said in a statement.
Outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed on Monday that the ceasefire agreement will continue to be in effect until February 18, following the consultations with President Aoun and House Speaker Nabih Berri, NNA reported.
“After being informed of the report of the ceasefire monitoring committee, which is working on the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, the Lebanese government stresses the preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and the extension of the ceasefire deal until February 18, 2025,” Mikati said.
Besides the deadline extension, the White House announced the launch of negotiations between the Lebanese and the U.S. government, as well as the Zionist entity, for “the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.”
The Zionist forces killed 22 people in south Lebanon on Sunday as a deadline for their withdrawal passed and thousands of people tried to return to their homes, Lebanese authorities said.
Lebanon’s U.S.-backed military, which reported one of its soldiers among those killed by occupation forces, has accused “Israel” of procrastinating in its withdrawal.
