The US- and French-brokered ceasefire, agreed upon in November, required both Hezbollah and Israel to pull out by Sunday to allow the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to take over security.

Lebanon's former caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said he was informed by the head of the ceasefire committee, US Major General Jasper Jeffers, that the Israeli withdrawal might be delayed for several days.

Israeli officials claimed that Lebanese troops were not deploying fast enough in the areas set to be vacated by Israeli forces.

Israel's escalation against Lebanon has killed more than 4,047 people, most of them since September, Al Mayadeen Network reported, citing Lebanese officials.

Lebanese Minister of Health Firass Abiad confirmed the toll a week after the truce was declared, noting that the dead included 316 children and 790 women, with 16,638 people wounded.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to destroy homes and infrastructure in southern Lebanon and target civilians, violating the agreement. Its military presence in the south has further undermined the ceasefire’s goal of ensuring stability and security.

The deal, based on UN Resolution 1701, is meant to see the Lebanese army dismantle Hezbollah’s presence south of the Litani River and Israeli forces withdraw from the country.

This is supposed to occur within the 60-day period that began in late November and will end in five days.

Israel has violated the agreement more than 1,000 times since it took effect. 

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem called on the Lebanese state to be firm in confronting violations, now numbering in the hundreds. "This cannot continue," he said in a televised speech on 18 January.

The group also warned that any delay in Israel's withdrawal "would necessitate a firm response from the state." It has also threatened to resume rocket and drone fire if Israel failed to withdraw on time.

Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, stressed that Israel must withdraw from the country's south by the 26 January deadline set to implement the ceasefire fully.

In light of this, Hezbollah urged Lebanese political authorities to pressure the countries sponsoring the agreement to ensure effective monitoring of the final days of the deadline.

 "We call on all parties, especially the Lebanese political authorities, to exert pressure on the countries sponsoring the agreement to ensure the final days of the deadline are monitored effectively," the group said in a statement.