The U.S. and Lebanon say the ceasefire deal with Israel, due to expire on January 26, has been extended until mid-February.
Israel had kept troops deployed in Lebanon beyond the initial deadline, accusing the Lebanese government of not fully implementing its part of the deal, which required the removal of Hezbollah from the area.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati says, following contact from the U.S., the truce will now remain in place until 18 February.
The initial ceasefire plan, announced in late November, brought an end to 14 months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Brokered by the U.S. and France, the agreement gave Hezbollah 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon and required Israeli forces to withdraw over the same period.
Thousands of Lebanese residents have returned to towns and villages near the border since the deal was agreed, despite warnings that the region was still unsafe. On January 26, the Lebanese health ministry said 22 people had been killed by Israeli soldiers in the area.
The Israeli military said it had fired “warning shots in multiple areas,” without specifying if people had been hit, and apprehended several people it claimed posed an “imminent threat.”
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