WASHINGTON

A "short, temporary ceasefire extension is urgently needed" between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, the White House said Friday as a critical deadline for Israeli forces to withdraw from Lebanon rapidly approaches.

In a statement, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said President Donald Trump is committed to ensuring Israeli citizens can safely return to their homes in northern Israel, and also supported Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the new Lebanese government.

"All parties share the goal of ensuring Hezbollah does not have the ability to threaten the Lebanese people or their neighbors," said Hughes.

"To achieve these goals, a short, temporary ceasefire extension is urgently needed. We are pleased that the IDF has started the withdrawal from the central regions, and we continue to work closely with our regional partners to finalize the extension," he added.

Israel faces a Sunday deadline to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory under the terms of a 60-day ceasefire it agreed to with Hezbollah on Nov. 27. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Friday that his forces would not fully withdraw within the timeframe laid out in the pact, blaming the Lebanese government for what he said was its failure to uphold its commitments.

The "withdrawal process is conditional on the Lebanese Army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani," he said, adding that since Lebanon "has not yet fully enforced" its obligations under the ceasefire, "the phased withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States".

Netanyahu stated that the terms of the deal were worded “with the understanding that the withdrawal process may continue beyond 60 days.”

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli army entered the southern towns of Aitaroun and Qantara where it destroyed civilian properties and a local mosque, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.