Lebanon and the Lebanese Army are growing increasingly frustrated with the IDF's refusal to withdraw fast enough to be entirely out of Lebanese territory by January 26, the deadline for Israel's withdrawal according to the ceasefire with Hezbollah, per a report by the Lebanese media outlet LBCI.
According to LBCI's sources and an interview with caretaker Prime Minister Nagib Mikati, Israel is continuing to conduct targeted raids throughout southern Lebanon, including surrounding and chasing away people occupying suspected Hezbollah bases and weapons warehouses.
The report states that Israel is using security related "pretexts" to conduct these raids and is complaining about the slow pace with which the Lebanese Army is taking over the region, but claimed that the army has actually deployed quickly into areas which the IDF evacuated.
Defense Minister Katz recently stated that the IDF will withdraw based on the efforts of the Lebanese Army to demilitarize and control southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's keeping its forces and weapons entirely behind the Litani, not the 60-day deadline in the agreement.
According to a report in Naharnet, Israel has been negotiating to withdraw from all of southern Lebanon with the exception of three unoccupied but strategically located hills, where bases can be established to observe suspicious or dangerous moves in the area and to shield important towns in Israeli territory.
Hezbollah members in the Lebanese parliament and in the terrorist group's leadership have said it is the responsibility of the Lebanese state and the international community to ensure Israel fully withdraws and that for its part, Hezbollah considers itself committed to the ceasefire terms - but will cease to do so once the deadline expires.
Meanwhile, according to reports in the Arab media, Hezbollah and the other Shiite party Amal are set to join the government being formed by incoming Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, with a Hezbollah parliamentary member receiving the finance potrfolio.
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