White House announces ceasefire extension in Lebanon until February 18

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is Lebanon was set to expire on Monday, Jan. 27.

However, White House officials released a statement on Sunday evening that “the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, will continue to be in effect until February 18, 2025.”

The statement added that “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 comes three days after White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that a "short and temporary extension of the ceasefire" is urgently needed. The U.S. administration views the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from key areas positively.

Hughes argued that the Lebanese Army requires additional days to deploy in more areas to ensure that Hezbollah will no longer pose a threat to Lebanon and Israel.

In Israel, it was stated that the ability of the Lebanese Army to effectively deploy in the eastern sector, from the Meiss al-Jabal area to Mount Dov, and to neutralize Hezbollah assets transferred to it by the IDF through the American mechanism, is still insufficient.

IDF officials noted that while they see the Lebanese Army taking action and attempting to establish control on the ground, it remains challenged by Hezbollah and "needs more time to strengthen itself."

The military is redeploying in the western sector according to pre-prepared plans, as was the case in the Naqoura and Tir-Harfa areas, in coordination with the U.S. and the Lebanese Army, which has begun to deploy both in the field and within the Shiite villages.