Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Tuesday that he is maintaining contacts with the United States and France - the guarantors of the ceasefire in Lebanon - to complete the Israeli withdrawal "through diplomatic channels" after the expiration of the extension of the cessation of hostilities.
“Lebanon continues its diplomatic contacts with the United States and France to complete the Israeli withdrawal from the remaining territories it occupied in the last war,” Aoun said in a statement posted on the official Lebanese Presidential X account.
He also noted that Lebanon is committed to “adopt the diplomatic route because nobody wants war.”
The Lebanese government warned Israel on Tuesday of “all legal consequences” arising from the presence of Israeli troops at five points in the south of the country.
The Lebanese Army announced the deployment of its military units in a dozen towns in the south of the country and other border areas following the withdrawal of Israeli troops, which are still present at five other points along the border.
Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that his military will remain at five points near the border in Lebanon's buffer zone, inside Lebanese territory, despite the fact that today was the deadline for Israel to withdraw its forces from the south of the country as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on November 27, was initially valid for 60 days, but was extended until February 18.
The text stipulated the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all areas it occupies in southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in its place, while also implying a withdrawal of the terrorist group Hezbollah to the north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers from the border with Israel.