’15 killed’ in Lebanon before deal reached to extend Israeli withdrawal deadline

Lebanese citizens check the destruction in their village (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Israeli forces in southern Lebanon have opened fire on protesters demanding their withdrawal in line with a ceasefire agreement, killing at least 22 people and injuring 124, Lebanese health officials reported.

Hours later, the White House said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until February 18, after Israel requested more time to withdraw beyond the 60-day deadline stipulated in a ceasefire agreement that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war in late November.