The Israeli army on Saturday warned residents of dozens of Lebanese villages near the border against returning until further notice, a day after Israel said its forces would remain in south Lebanon beyond a Sunday deadline for their departure.

Israel has said it is delaying the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon, as it said Lebanon had not yet fully implemented its part of a ceasefire agreement. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said however that the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops would continue in coordination with the United States.

Lebanon's army accused Israel of procrastinating in withdrawing troops from south Lebanon as required under a ceasefire that ended the war with Hezbollah, a day after Israel said its forces would remain beyond a Sunday deadline for their departure.