Israel Tells Lebanon: No Further Pullbacks From Southern Security Zone

Israel has made clear to Lebanon that it will not withdraw from additional territory in the security zone in southern Lebanon. This was reported today (Wednesday) by N12. Delegations from the two countries are expected to hold a round of talks next week, from August 4 to 6, in Rome, Italy's capital.

According to the report, the dispute between the sides centers on Israel's demand to retain security freedom of action. The IDF would retain the option of reentering evacuated territory to ensure that it has been cleared of Hezbollah infrastructure.

Lebanon opposes this demand, and Israel has therefore made clear that without an agreement on the issue, there is no reason to discuss expanding the pilot program to additional areas, and the IDF will not withdraw from further territory. Israel also stressed that even if the framework is expanded to additional areas in the future, it will not include a withdrawal from territory in the security zone along the Yellow Line.

"The additional areas will not be on our side, along the defense lines we have established," a senior Israeli official told N12. "If the current pilot succeeds and additional pilot areas are decided on later, they will be beyond the Yellow Line. We will not allow further withdrawals from the area on our side. Until Hezbollah is disarmed in Lebanon—that is what was agreed."

It should be noted that last week, during a diplomatic visit to the United States, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said there was agreement from the U.S. that Israel must withdraw from all of southern Lebanon. Last night, following a conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, an Israeli official said the United States had not pressured Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon.