IDF to miss Lebanon withdrawal deadline

ISRAEL's military said its forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon after Tuesday's deadline for their withdrawal under a cease-fire with the Hezbollah militant group, as Lebanon's government expressed frustration over another delay.

- 

A separate ceasefire in Gaza was also in doubt as the region marked 500 days of Israel's war with Hamas, while Israel and the United States send conflicting signals over whether they want the truce to continue. Talks on the ceasefire's second phase are yet to start.

Military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the five locations in Lebanon provide vantage points or are located across from communities in northern Israel, where about 60,000 Israelis are still displaced. He said the "temporary measure" was approved by the US-led body monitoring the truce, which earlier was extended by three weeks.

Under the agreement, Israeli forces should withdraw from a buffer zone in southern Lebanon that would be patrolled by the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers. The ceasefire has held since taking effect in November.