The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday confirmed that it will keep its forces in southern Lebanon as the 60-day truce comes to an end on Sunday.

Under the ceasefire deal agreed to in November, Jerusalem was to begin withdrawing troops from its northern neighbor – where it launched operations last fall in an effort to dismantle Hezbollah – and have all troops removed within 60 days. 

But Israeli officials have argued that the IDF will not withdraw its forces, because stipulations under the deal, including the removal of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from the southern region of Lebanon, and the deployment of Lebanese and U.N. troops to the area, have not been adequately fulfilled. 

Israeli soldiers from the 769th Brigade continue to operate in southern Lebanon, rooting out Hezbollah threat. Image provided on Jan. 24, 2025. (Photo provided by the IDF)

More than 1.2 million people were reportedly displaced in Lebanon after fighting erupted amid Israel’s October incursion – a move prompted following months of missile exchanges with Hezbollah in the aftermath of the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. 

According to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer, “There have been positive movements where the Lebanese army and UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] have taken the place of Hezbollah forces, as stipulated in the agreement.”

However, these movements in southern Lebanon “have not been fast enough, and there is much more work to do,” he told reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters. 

Israeli soldiers from the 769th Brigade continue to operate in southern Lebanon, rooting out Hezbollah threat. Image provided on Jan. 24, 2025. (Photo provided by the IDF)

Israeli reports on Friday suggested that Jerusalem had petitioned the Trump administration to grant it a 30-day extension on fully withdrawing its forces from its northern neighbor. 

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the White House, State Department or Lebanese government for comment.