US pledges full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon by month's end

US envoy Amos Hochstein has reportedly assured Lebanese officials that the US guarantees a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon by the end of January.

According to the Saudi Al-Akhbar news agency, Hochstein reviewed the withdrawal timeline during his visit to Lebanon on Monday and informed the country's new president, Joseph Aoun, that he had received a full withdrawal plan from Israel.

The final date for the Israeli presence in the country has been said to be 26 January, he said.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in place since late November, though both sides have accused each other of repeated violations.