White House Extends Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

The White House has announced an extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire until February 18, following intense diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to prevent its collapse.

The decision grants Israel’s military more time to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon and allows the Lebanese army to fully deploy along the border, as stipulated in the original ceasefire agreement.

While this extension offers a temporary reprieve, it also underscores the fragility of the situation on the ground.

High-Stakes Mediation

The extension, secured just minutes before the original 60-day withdrawal deadline expired, reflects the urgency of the negotiations.

According to the White House, the Trump administration worked tirelessly with regional partners over the past 96 hours to reach an agreement.

“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,” the announcement reads.

Without this intervention, the ceasefire—brokered after the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in late November—was at risk of unraveling.

The extension grants an additional three and a half weeks for Israel’s military to finalize its withdrawal and for the Lebanese army to take full control of the border region.

This coordinated effort is critical to ensuring that Hezbollah does not reestablish a presence in southern Lebanon, a concern voiced by Israeli officials.

However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has emphasized his nation’s sovereignty, urging patience and trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces while reassuring displaced residents of their rights and dignity.

Escalating Tensions

Despite the extension, tensions flared on Sunday as thousands of Lebanese citizens, including Hezbollah supporters, moved toward villages near the border.

While the Lebanese army initially attempted to halt the movement, it eventually allowed people to pass its checkpoints.

Clashes erupted when Israeli forces fired on individuals who approached their positions, resulting in 22 fatalities and dozens of injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The violence highlights the precarious nature of the ceasefire. Hezbollah had warned that it would consider the agreement null and void if Israel failed to meet the original withdrawal deadline.

Meanwhile, an Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of orchestrating the unrest to distract from its waning influence in Lebanon and the Arab world.

Calls for Stability

International actors have also weighed in, urging both sides to honor the ceasefire terms.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL head Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro issued a joint statement emphasizing the need for compliance.

“The fact is that the timelines envisaged in the November Understanding have not been met. As seen tragically this morning, conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages along the Blue Line. Displaced communities, already facing a long road to recovery and reconstruction, are therefore once again being called on to exercise caution.”

The UN has called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, the removal of unauthorized weapons south of the Litani River, and the redeployment of the Lebanese army throughout southern Lebanon.

These steps are crucial for ensuring the safe and dignified return of the 112,000 Lebanese civilians still displaced from the conflict, out of more than 1 million who fled their homes.

“The United Nations continues to engage all actors towards this end and remains ready to support any action consistent with resolution 1701 and the efforts of the Implementation Mechanism to achieve the objectives of the November Understanding,” they added.

In addition to addressing the immediate withdrawal and deployment challenges, the White House announced plans for negotiations involving Lebanon, Israel, and the US.

These talks will focus on the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023, many of whom are Hezbollah militants. This development adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation, with potential implications for future regional stability.

Israeli troops have opened fire and killed civilians in southern Lebanon on the day they were supposed to withdraw under the terms of a ceasefire with Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/5lmNvOFStS

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 26, 2025

Looking Ahead

The extension of the ceasefire provides a critical window for diplomacy and de-escalation.

However, the events of Sunday underscore the fragility of the truce and the challenges of maintaining peace in a region fraught with historical and political tensions.

As international actors push for stability, the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether the ceasefire can hold and whether a path to lasting peace can be charted.