IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon will continue, US envoy Hochstein says during Beirut visit

Amid reports that Israel is considering leaving its troops in southern Lebanon longer than stipulated by the ceasefire agreement, U.S. Special Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut on Monday without giving any indications that an amendment to the agreement had been discussed.

“These withdrawals will continue until Israeli forces are fully out of Lebanon,” Hochstein said after meeting senior Lebanese officials. “There’s been much progress in recent days, and I expect to see additional progress being made in the days to come.”

Under the ceasefire agreement, which was largely mediated by Hochstein, IDF troops were given a 60-day period to pull out of Lebanon, which expires on Jan. 26,

In parallel, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were meant to deploy throughout southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah was to withdraw behind the Litani River.

However, reports in recent weeks suggest that Israeli forces could potentially remain in Lebanon for a longer period due to the LAF's slow deployment in southern Lebanon. 

“Israel is interested in the implementation of the agreement in Lebanon and will continue to enforce it fully and without compromise to ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.

However, he stressed that “the first condition for the implementation of the agreement is the complete withdrawal of the terrorist organization Hezbollah across the Litani River, the dismantling of all weapons and the thwarting of the terrorist infrastructure in the area by the Lebanese army – something that has not yet happened.” 

On Monday, Hochstein noted that the IDF had withdrawn its troops from the area of a-Naqoura in the western part of southern Lebanon the day before, with the LAF confirming its deployment there.

Hezbollah’s Nur Radio reported that the LAF would deploy in several other villages in the area between Naqoura and Rmeish on Tuesday.

تمركزت وحدات الجيش حول بلدة الناقورة - صور وبدأت الانتشار فيها بالتنسيق مع قوة الأمم المتحدة المؤقتة في لبنان - اليونيفيل، وبالتزامن مع انعقاد اجتماع اللجنة الخماسية للإشراف على اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار (Mechanism) في رأس الناقورة في حضور كبير مستشاري الرئيس الأميركي جو بايدن، السيد… pic.twitter.com/aHiBO73EGo

— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) January 6, 2025

The withdrawal from Naqoura was only the third organized withdrawal by the Israeli army, which continues to maintain positions in dozens of towns and villages across southern Lebanon.

IDF soldiers are still finding Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure.

“This is not an easy process to implement; it’s a difficult process,” Hochstein acknowledged.

While Israel has bemoaned the LAF’s slow deployment, the Lebanese side has accused Israel of violating the agreement with over 800 strikes, which the IDF says were targeting violations by Hezbollah.

After meeting with Hochstein, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he opposes “the continuation of Israel’s violations,” and demanded that the IDF stop the destruction of houses and the violation of the country’s airspace.

He also demanded a clear timetable for the completion of the withdrawal of IDF troops.

Lebanon’s LBC channel reported that the U.S. has been pressuring Israel to withdraw from Lebanon at the end of the 60 days, and not to demand an extension of the ceasefire agreement.

The report added that the head of the ceasefire monitoring committee, U.S. Maj.-Gen. Jasper Jeffers, will visit Israel next week. The committee convened on Monday in the presence of Hochstein.

After the meeting, Mikati stated that Lebanon had expressed its demands for Israel to cease its violations, noting that UN Resolution 1701, which the ceasefire is based on, obligated both Lebanon and Israel.