US administration grants Israeli army permission to occupy!

According to a report by Israel's state television KAN, citing senior cabinet officials, the US administration has accepted that the Israeli army should continue its occupation of southern Lebanon "for the security of Israelis in the north of the country."

It was reported that this issue was also discussed during meetings held last week in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.

It was noted that in addition to the two leaders, delegations from both countries also discussed the matter and reached a preliminary agreement.

It was stated that negotiations are ongoing regarding 5 points where Israel wishes to remain near the Blue Line, and that an important meeting regarding the process will be held on Friday, February 14, in the town of Ras Naqoura in southern Lebanon.

ARMY SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCES 'EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD'

On the other hand, Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichai Adraee also noted that "the implementation period of the agreement has been extended."

In a post on his X account, Adraee threatened Lebanese citizens who want to return to their homes in the south, stating, "The implementation period of the agreement has been extended and the Israeli army is still deployed on the ground, so it is forbidden for you to move to the south."

Claiming that Lebanese people moving south are putting themselves in danger, Adraee noted that the implementation period of the agreement had been extended, but did not share detailed information on whether he was referring to the postponement of Israel's withdrawal process from southern Lebanon from January 26 to February 18, or if a new extension was in question.

ISRAEL HAD REPORTEDLY REQUESTED ADDITIONAL TIME FROM THE US

Reports in the Israeli and Lebanese press had claimed that Israel requested additional time from the US to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

In a report on Lebanon's LBCI television, it was noted that Israel had asked the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee to extend the withdrawal process from the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon until February 28.

In a report in the Times of Israel newspaper, it was claimed that the Israeli administration had applied to the US to extend the time granted for its withdrawal from the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon, and that Washington was "for now" in favor of sticking to the February 18 deadline set for Israel's withdrawal.

THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL

The ceasefire agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel entered into force on November 27, 2024, at 04:00 local time (05:00 Turkish time).

Under the agreement, it was envisioned that the Lebanese army would gradually deploy to the areas occupied by Israel in the south of the country within 60 days (January 26), and that the Israeli army would withdraw.

With the approval of the US, Israel had extended the occupation period until February 18, claiming that the Lebanese army had not "fully settled" in the south of the country.

News Source: AA