American envoy says Israeli forces will completely withdraw from South Lebanon. Israel attacks Lebanon News

United States envoy Amos Hochstein has said that Israeli forces will completely withdraw from south Lebanon, despite recent reports that Israel plans to maintain a permanent presence in the country.

Hochstein’s statement on Monday came as Israel was withdrawing its forces from Nakoura in the western sector of the border, with Lebanese forces also deployed in the area.

“Israeli forces began their withdrawal back into Israel today from Naqoura, most of the western area and south of the Blue Line,” Hochstein told reporters in Beirut, referring to the unofficial border between the two countries.

“These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces completely withdraw from Lebanon.”

However, the US official did not specify a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal.

The November ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah states that Israeli forces must leave Lebanon within 60 days, by January 26.

But Israeli media reports have revealed that the Israeli military does not plan to respect the deadline.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement after meeting Hochstein on Monday that he “strongly rejects” any delay in Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.

Last week, the United Nations reiterated its call for a “timely” Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

The Israeli army is violating the ceasefire and carrying out almost daily attacks in Lebanon, including airstrikes across the country, ground advances and the destruction of homes in areas under its control.

Israel argues that it is implementing the agreement, which states that Hezbollah should withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 km (19 mi) from the Israeli border.

Despite Israeli attacks, except for one “warning attack” against an Israeli base last month, Hezbollah has maintained its fire since the agreement came into force.

Hezbollah officials have said they are allowing the Lebanese government to address Israeli violations through diplomatic channels and a US-led “mechanism” to monitor the agreement.

But Hezbollah chief Naim Qassim warned on Saturday that the group’s patience may run out before or after the 60-day period. “When we decide to do something, you will see it straight away,” Qasim said in a televised speech.

Following the start of the 15-month war on Gaza, Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military targets in a campaign it said was aimed at pressuring Israel to halt its offensive against the besieged enclave. Was.

After nearly a year of low-level cross-border hostilities, Israel launched an all-out war in Lebanon, killing thousands and destroying large parts of the country.

During its attack, Israel struck Hezbollah heavily, killing many of its top military and political officials, including its powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military also claimed to have destroyed most of the group’s rocket arsenal.

However, Hezbollah claimed victory after the battle, saying it had halted Israel’s ground advance and inflicted heavy losses on the attacking troops. Lebanese groups also continued to fire rockets and drones at Israel throughout the conflict.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the country would be “forced to take action” if Hezbollah did not withdraw from the border.

But Hochstein suggests the fragile ceasefire holds. “This process has not been smooth, but it has been successful,” he said Monday.

The Lebanese army had confirmed its deployment in Nakoura earlier on Monday, but the municipality had urged residents to return to the town before getting the green light from authorities after opening roads and clearing unexploded ordnance.