News - Middle East: The prime minister of Lebanon says Beirut has sent a “clear message” to the international overseers of the truce deal with Israel that the regime has to completely withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon before the end of January.

The truce deal reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November stipulated that Israeli forces must leave Lebanon before January 26.

However, a report cited an unnamed Israeli official on Monday saying that the Israeli military was preparing for a prolonged stay in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Tuesday that he conveyed a clear message to the committee that oversees the truce deal that Israel’s extending of the ceasefire period is “categorically unacceptable.”

The regime's "violations must stop and that Israel must withdraw completely from the occupied Lebanese territories," his office said in a message on X.

“We also warned against continuing to violate the ceasefire understanding because it threatens the entire understanding, which is something I do not believe anyone wants to happen.” 

During a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut on Monday, Mikati also demanded a clear timetable for completing the regime’s withdrawal from his country.

A committee made up of France, the United States, Lebanon, and United Nations peacekeepers is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and ensuring violations are identified and dealt with.

But at least 300 Israeli violations have been reported since the ceasefire agreement took effect at the end of November last year to end nearly 70 days of Israel's offensive on the country.

Source: Press TV