CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper met senior leaders in Israel and Lebanon to advance the Washington framework agreement. Defense Minister Katz stated there will be no further IDF withdrawals from security zones until Hezbollah is disarmed, while the U.S. reportedly considers ground troop deployment to Lebanon. Separately, the IDF eliminated a Hamas platoon commander in southern Gaza.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper held high-level meetings in Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday to discuss implementation of the Washington framework agreement signed last Friday, according to CENTCOM.
In Lebanon, Cooper met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Rodolphe Haykal. In Israel, he met with Defense Minister Israel Katz and other senior civilian and military leaders. Cooper also visited deployed U.S. troops.
Defense Minister Katz said after the meeting that "there will be no further withdrawals beyond the two pilot areas in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed," according to a statement. Katz and Cooper agreed on this position, he said.
Washington Post reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing plans to deploy American ground forces to Lebanon to monitor both the IDF and the Lebanese Armed Forces in implementing the agreement. The report was not officially confirmed.
President Aoun publicly backed the Washington framework, saying it "achieves the logic of the state" and "preserves Lebanon's rights." He also praised Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's efforts and rejected rumors of plans to dismiss the army commander.
Separately, CENTCOM announced it hosted a regional security dialogue in Bahrain on July 1, including military leaders from Syria and Lebanon for the first time. The dialogue covered regional security and maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
As The Zioneer reported (June 25, 18:03), Cooper had been scheduled to visit the IDF Chief of Staff to solidify the Lebanon ceasefire. The current visit follows months of Israeli complaints that the Lebanese army was avoiding decisive action against Hezbollah.
- ConfirmedKatz: IDF will not withdraw 'a millimeter' from Lebanon until Hezbollah disarmed
- DevelopingReport: CENTCOM chief arrives in Lebanon to establish coordination mechanism with IDF
- StrongCENTCOM chief to visit IDF Chief of Staff to solidify Lebanon ceasefire
- StrongKatz calls Lebanon deal a historic achievement, vows no IDF withdrawal until Hezbollah disarmed
Source and signal
- Internal intake