STORY: Lebanese PM raises ceasefire violations as U.S. reaffirms Israeli withdrawal
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 6, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:28
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein meeting with Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri
2. various of press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English): AMOS HOCHSTEIN, U.S. envoy
4. various of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati

STORYLINE:

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday demanded that Israel halt its violations of the ceasefire agreement as Israeli forces continued their withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Mikati reiterated "the demand to stop the Israeli security violations of the ceasefire, the ongoing attacks on southern towns, the systematic destruction of homes and facilities, and the violation of Lebanese airspace" during a meeting with visiting U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.

He also called for "setting a clear timetable to complete the Israeli withdrawal before the end of the 60 days" stipulated by the agreement.

Hochstein, speaking after meetings with Mikati and Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri, said that the Israeli withdrawal would continue until all Israeli forces had left Lebanese territory.

SOUNDBITE (English): AMOS HOCHSTEIN, U.S. envoy
"The idea of Israeli military started its withdrawal from Naqoura, most of the western sector, and back into Israel proper today, south of the Blue Line. These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely and as the Lebanese army continues to deploy into the south and all the way to the Blue Line." 

Hochstein said the committee overseeing the ceasefire would continue working over the next 20 days on the Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army, in cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

A ceasefire brokered by the United States and France took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, seeking to end nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Under the agreement, Israel is to withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army deploying along the Lebanese-Israeli border and in southern Lebanon to assume security responsibilities and prevent the presence of weapons and militants.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)