Israel says Lebanon troop pullout 'will continue' beyond 60-day deadline

Israel announced on Friday that the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon would continue beyond the 60-day period stipulated in a November ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that the ceasefire agreement had been drafted "with the understanding that the withdrawal process might extend beyond the 60-day period".

"The withdrawal process is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, with Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River," a statement from Netanyahu's office said, ahead of the Sunday deadline.

"Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States."

The fragile truce, which took effect on November 27 after two months of full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, has been marked by accusations of violations from both sides.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.

Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

A committee composed of Israeli, Lebanese, French and US delegates and a representative of UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring any ceasefire violations are identified and dealt with.

The UN peacekeeping force has reported repeated Israeli violations of the terms of the ceasefire.