Lebanon ‘had no choice but to accept’ Israeli truce extension

Sources in Beirut accuse Israel of testing Hezbollah and making border towns uninhabitable

People protest in front of Lebanese army soldiers after being barred from returning to Meiss Al Jabal in southern Lebanon on Monday. EPA

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The extension of the initial truce phase between Lebanon and Israel was prompted by an Israeli request and reluctantly accepted by Lebanon in exchange for the release of Hezbollah war prisoners and others, sources familiar with the talks revealed on Monday.

The 60-day truce, which ended a devastating war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, was originally expected to lead to a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. However, the truce expired on Sunday, with Israeli troops still stationed in southern villages.

The Israeli army, which killed 22 Lebanese civilians attempting to return to their homes in the occupied territories, told mediators it needed more time to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure. But Lebanese sources claimed that Israel also aimed to test Hezbollah’s reaction while continuing to render the border villages “uninhabitable”.

“Lebanon had no choice but to accept. The only way to save face was to demand negotiations and the release of Hezbollah and other prisoners,” a senior Lebanese security source told The National.

Lebanon, grappling with destruction, and Hezbollah, which suffered significant losses in its war with Israel, agreed to extend the truce phase until February 18 after negotiations with the US, which had initially pushed for a full Israeli withdrawal.

“For Lebanon to accept the truce extension, it secured a promise regarding prisoners, including Lebanese individuals and Hezbollah members detained by Israel,” a political source within the caretaker government said.

A mannequin in military clothing used as a decoy stands in northern Israel on the border with Lebanon. AP

“The number of Lebanese prisoners remains unknown, as Israel has not disclosed their numbers, nor have Lebanon or Hezbollah, given the large number of missing persons in destroyed villages. It remains unclear how many are dead or captured."

On Monday, the Lebanese government confirmed its agreement to a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah after consultations with the US.

“The Israelis, of course, prefer additional time to continue destroying what they claim are Hezbollah’s tunnels and infrastructure. In reality, they are turning border towns into uninhabitable places by depriving them of water and farmland,” the security source said. “Even our olive trees were taken by them."

Testing Hezbollah

According to the security official, Israel’s request for an extension was also intended to test Hezbollah’s response. “Hezbollah understood what needed to be done and remained behind the scenes, encouraging unarmed civilians to go back to their lands. This appears to be part of a broader strategy to return to its 1980s approach: pushing people to fight for their lands through lone attacks while supporting them discreetly, avoiding direct claims or public acknowledgement of the attacks.”

Israel has already indicated that its forces will remain in southern Lebanon for a longer period, accusing Beirut of failing to implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which includes dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure and relocating its fighters north of the Litani River. While Israeli forces have withdrawn from coastal areas in southern Lebanon, they remain stationed further east.

A political source in Beirut said the agreement to extend the truce “was not reached at the last moment”, adding that Lebanese officials had been “conducting talks days before the deadline”.

“Lebanese communications were carried out through the truce oversight committee led by the US,” the source said. “Talks were also held with officials from the US National Security Council, which has the capacity to effectively communicate with and influence Israel.”

An Israeli tank in Meiss Al Jabal, southern Lebanon. EPA

The source also noted that US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, oversaw the negotiations. “Witkoff preferred that all parties adhere to the original deadline but later acquiesced to Israel’s request for an extension,” the source said. “The Americans accepted Israel’s justification that additional time was required to complete procedures in areas south of the Litani River.”

US and Israeli officials did not comment beyond the announcement of the extension of the truce.

On Sunday, the Israeli army claimed it fired warning shots in multiple areas of southern Lebanon after detecting threats from approaching individuals. The military said several suspects posing imminent threats to its troops were detained and are now being questioned.

Dramatic footage from local media showed Israeli soldiers dragging a man out of a building and detaining him. Other videos depicted civilians standing face-to-face with an Israeli tank as displaced locals, who had been unable to return home for over a year, attempted to reclaim their villages.

“What happened in the south on Sunday is a natural form of resistance as long as the occupation seeks to extend its presence,” a Hezbollah source commented. “The agreement has expired, and the Lebanese government is responsible for making decisions. The Lebanese authorities bear the responsibility of putting pressure on the enemy."