The Lebanese group "Hezbollah" will not accept any excuses for extending the period for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. This was stated on Monday by its leader Naim Qassem, quoted by "Reuters".
"What happens after the deadline given for Israel to withdraw? Israel must withdraw because the 60 days have expired. "We do not accept any excuses for an extension," he said in a recorded televised address.
Qassem said the group had received information that Washington had initially offered the Lebanese authorities an extension until February 28, which he said they had rejected.
Lebanon's interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati said during a meeting with US Ambassador Lisa Johnson that the country agreed to adhere to the ceasefire agreement with Israel until February 18.
Mikati said this required pressure to end Israeli "aggression and repeated violations" and to ensure a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories in the south in return, his office said in a statement on Monday.
"No one in Lebanon can accept an extension of the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel must withdraw," Qassem said. "The UN, the US, France and the Israeli entity will be responsible for all consequences of the delay in the withdrawal," he added.
He also said that the "resistance" has the right to act as it sees fit in response to the "occupation".
We recall that Israel said on Friday that the withdrawal of its army would continue beyond the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese group. The reason is that the terms of the deal have not been fully implemented by the Lebanese state.
The United States said on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and Israel will remain in force until February 18, an extension of the January 26 deadline previously agreed upon.
Israeli forces killed at least 24 people and wounded at least 141 others in southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, as thousands of people tried to return to their homes in the area in defiance of Israeli military orders.
The conflict between "Hezbollah" and Israel fought alongside the Gaza war and culminated in a major Israeli offensive against Hezbollah that displaced more than a million people in Lebanon and left the group severely weakened.
Regarding the formation of the Lebanese cabinet, the Hezbollah leader said negotiations with the country's prime minister and president were going well, adding that "complications" in forming the cabinet are not due to the group.
In early January, lawmakers elected army chief Joseph Aoun as head of state, filling the vacant presidency with a general who has the approval of the United States and reflects the diminished influence of the Iran-backed group after its devastating war with Israel.
Discussions on forming a government often drag on in Lebanon due to the struggle between its factions for cabinet positions.