The ceasefire agreement, which began on November 27, is intended to last for 60 days. During this period, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are expected to deploy in southern Lebanon and dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons storage sites. However, Israeli officials have accused the LAF of failing to meet these expectations. Allegations have surfaced that some Lebanese personnel have been tipping off Hezbollah militants before planned searches, further complicating the situation, according to the Jerusalem Post news report.
In recent days, Hezbollah has issued a warning, declaring that it will take action if Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon past the agreed-upon 60-day limit. This has raised concerns within Trump's team, who fear that an extension of Israel's presence could trigger a new round of hostilities.
Israeli officials have explained to their US counterparts that the Lebanese Army’s slow and inadequate deployment has left Hezbollah largely intact in the region, necessitating Israel’s continued presence. Israeli leaders have stressed the importance of maintaining US involvement in the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, which includes Israel, Lebanon, France, and Hezbollah. They argue that US leadership is crucial to pressuring the Lebanese Army to take stronger action against Hezbollah.
The Israeli government has emphasized that coordination with the US is essential to prevent the potential withdrawal of American oversight in Lebanon, which could undermine the ceasefire and lead to further instability in the region.
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