Political and security imperatives will deter Israel from fully withdrawing from southern Lebanon by the Jan. 26 deadline outlined in its ceasefire with Hezbollah, which will risk impeding U.S. strategy in Lebanon and provoking renewed Hezbollah attacks. But an alternative scenario in which significant diplomatic pressure compels Israel to withdraw at the last minute cannot be ruled out. On Jan. 23, The Times of Israel reported that Israel had reportedly asked the United States for an additional 30 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, ahead of the Jan. 26 deadline stipulated in the Nov. 27 ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Israel's Army Radio reported the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump is not inclined to extend Israel's withdrawal date and wants the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw by Jan. 26. On Jan. 22, Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the subject, reported that the Hezbollah-Israel truce will likely be extended...
