Ceasefire monitoring chief expects deployment of Lebanese army in all of south by Feb. 18

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - The head of the ceasefire monitoring committee, US Gen. Jasper Jeffers, said Friday that he is confident with the Lebanese army's ability to deploy in all towns and areas in the south before Feb. 18 -- the deadline for the Israeli army's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The US Army's Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the committee convened in Naqoura in southern Lebanon for the fifth time with the participation of members from Lebanon, Israel, France, the US and the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The statement noted that the meeting "conducted military technical planning for the transfer of all remaining villages in the Southern Litani Area (southern Lebanon) to full LAF (Lebanese Army) control prior to Feb. 18."

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Wednesday that Tel Aviv asked ceasefire monitors to extend the deadline to Feb. 28 -- a request rejected by the Lebanese side. The Lebanese president’s media office denied reports about extending the deadline.

"I am confident that LAF ( Lebanese Armed Forces) will control all population centers in the Southern Litani Area before next Tuesday," Jeffers was quoted as saying.

Referring to the ceasefire agreement 13 terms, he stressed the importance of remembering them, adding that the committee "will continue to assist with the implementation of all of these principles, even beyond the 18th of February."

The general said the committee, known as the Mechanism, "will stay focused, continuing its work with all parties until implementation is fully achieved."

A fragile ceasefire has been in place since Nov. 27, ending months of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar