US envoy Amos Hochstein pledged that Israeli forces will continue pulling out from Lebanon, during a visit to the country on Monday concerning the deal between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the upcoming presidential elections.
In a meeting with acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Hochstein stressed that the forces' withdrawal remains ongoing until they have "completely" left the Lebanese territory.
Israeli forces must unilaterally pull out of the country’s south as per the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27 between Israel and Hezbollah, within a 60-day time period. In turn, Lebanese troops must be deployed instead.
Hochstein said: "With the Prime Minister, we discussed what the government must do to implement this [ceasefire] agreement to ensure the country can benefit from it to regain prosperity and stability," as cited by L'Orient Today.
Hochstein's pledge came as the Israeli army completed its withdrawal from a second Lebanese town, weeks after the ceasefire deal was imposed.
The town of Naqoura, a small town in the Tyre district, now follows Khiam as the latest Lebanese town free from Israeli soldiers.
Residents of Naqoura, however, said the town had been "completely destroyed" by the Israeli army prior to their withdrawal, locals told Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Residents have been encouraged to delay their return to Naqoura, as unexploded munitions are likely to be found. The Lebanese army has vowed to inspect and remove them before locals return to their homes in various towns in the south.
The Lebanese Army announced on Monday that "military units had taken positions around the locality of Naqoura, and began deploying in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)".
Meanwhile, Mikati said Lebanon has sent a "clear message" to the international overseers of the ceasefire agreement, that "Israeli violations must stop, and that Israel must withdraw completely from the occupied Lebanese territories".
The caretaker prime minister said on X that implementing United Nations Resolution 1701 was not only "Lebanon’s responsibility but is also binding on the Israeli enemy".
"We also warned against continuing to violate the ceasefire understanding because it threatens the entire understanding, which is something I do not believe anyone wants to happen," Mikati said.
The United States, France, and the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) oversee the ceasefire.
Israel has gone on to violate the ceasefire in Lebanon over 300 times since late November, which has resulted in the death of at least 33 people as of December 29.
Mikati demanded "a clear timetable of the Israeli withdrawal before the end of the 60-day period," firmly rejecting "any mention of Israel's intention to prolong" the period for implementing the ceasefire’s conditions.
"I have no reason to think that all parties, truly all, will not remain committed to implementing the agreement," Hochstein responded, who is also in Beirut to discuss the country's presidential election vote slated for Thursday.
Concerns have been raised that Israeli forces intend to remain in south Lebanon beyond the 60-day period, in a bid to counter what they claim Hezbollah's "increasing presence".
US military official Major General Jasper Jeffers allegedly sent a recent message to the Lebanese Armed Forces suggesting that Israeli troops will "decide whether to request the extension depending on if it can "fulfil its goals of ensuring the end of [Hezbollah’s] ability to carry out a pre-emptive attack," according to Al-Akhbar.
The ceasefire also stipulates that Israel must not carry out offensive actions in Lebanon and that Hezbollah must disarm – with only the Lebanese Army and security forces able to operate in south Lebanon.
Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging cross-border fire on October 8, 2023, one day after Israel launched its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. In September last year, Israel stepped up its violence in Lebanon and routinely targeted Beirut, the south, and the Bekaa among other locations. Israel also invaded Lebanon on 1 October.
Over 4,000 Lebanese were killed by Israel during this period, with the majority of casualties occurring between September and November.