Lebanon and Israel ceasefire extended to February 18, White House says

Sixty-day ceasefire brokered by the US and France was signed on November 27

Lebanese army vehicles drive past destroyed buildings in the southern Lebanese village of Yarin. The ceasefire stipulates that both Israel and Hezbollah would pull out of the border region, and that the Lebanese military would monitor the area. AFPShow less

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The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel will continue to be in effect until February 18 and will be monitored by the US, the White House said on Sunday.

"The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023," it added in a statement.

The 60-day ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, was signed between Israel and Lebanon on November 27 after clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters morphed into a full-scale war late last year, killing thousands and driving hundreds of thousands from their homes.

The agreement stipulated that both Israel and Hezbollah would pull out of the border region, and that the Lebanese military would monitor the area.

On the day residents of the border area were scheduled to return home, Israel launched a series of strikes that killed at least 22 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have traded blame for the delay in enacting the agreement, and on Friday Israel said it would keep troops across the border in south Lebanon beyond the pullout date.

UN and diplomatic sources had told The National in recent days that the truce was expected to be extended past its expiration on Monday, but following the strikes, questions had swirled over whether the ceasefire would hold.

The extension of the ceasefire comes a week after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage-detainee exchange.