BEIRUT — A U.S. official overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah indicated Friday that Israel would by next week withdraw from occupied towns in southern Lebanon. But his comments added to the uncertainty over whether Israel would remain in a handful of strategic points within Lebanese territory.

In a statement released by U.S. Central Command Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers — who chairs the U.S.-led ceasefire committee in Lebanon — said he was confident that Lebanon’s military would control “all population centers” in the country’s south once the deadline elapses for Israeli troops to withdraw next Tuesday.

But Jeffers’ phrasing left the window open for the continued presence of Israeli troops at five key points along the border. The Israeli plan was reportedly relayed to the Lebanese government this week by U.S. officials.

The speaker of Lebanon’s parliament, Nabih Berri, said Thursday that U.S. officials had told him that Israel intended to remain in five areas inside Lebanese territory, a plan that Berri said the Lebanese government had firmly rejected.

— The New York Times