Hezbollah gives Israel February 18 deadline to withdraw from Lebanon

The head of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on Sunday issued an ultimatum to Israeli troops to withdraw fully from Lebanese territory.

While giving Israeli forces until 18 February to withdraw, Hezbollah stated that it had no reason to maintain a military presence at any post in southern Lebanon.

Under a truce brokered by Washington in November, Israeli troops were granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where they had been waging a ground offensive against fighters from the Iran-backed Hezbollah since early October.

That deadline was later extended to 18 February, but Israel’s military requested to retain troops at five posts in southern Lebanon.

“Israel must withdraw completely on 18 February. It has no pretext, no five points or other details. This is the agreement,” Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said.

According to Qassem, any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after 18 February would be considered an occupying force.