Lebanon-Israel truce deal extended until Feb. 18

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement has been extended until mid-February., the BBC reported on Monday.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati was quoted as saying that after a contact from the Trump administration, the ceasefire would stay in place until February 18.

On Sunday, the White House also said the deadline had been extended, and that talks would begin on the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.

Also on Sunday, when the deal was to end, the Lebanese authorities accused Israeli troops of killing 22 people and injuring 124 others who were attempting to return home in the south.

Announced in late November, the initial ceasefire plan put an end to 14 months of war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Under the deal, brokered by the US and France, Hezbollah was required to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon in two months. Israel was required to pull out its forces over the same period.

PAN Monitor/mud