A senior Israeli official tells N12 that the IDF will not withdraw from Lebanon despite the emerging memorandum of understanding with the US, saying 'difficult negotiations on this issue are ongoing with Washington.' The statement underscores continued friction between Jerusalem and the US over the military presence in southern Lebanon.
A senior Israeli official told N12 on Thursday morning that the IDF will not withdraw from Lebanon, pushing back against the emerging memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran that reportedly includes a Lebanon clause. 'We are conducting difficult negotiations on this with the US,' the official said, signaling that Jerusalem views the IDF presence in southern Lebanon as a non-negotiable security requirement — at least at this stage.
The statement comes amid a flurry of reports over the past week about the terms of a US-Iran framework. As The Zioneer reported, senior Israeli and US officials have repeatedly stated that an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon is not on the table as part of the nuclear-track deal, though the exact language of the memorandum remains unpublished. The Biden administration has reportedly sought a timeline for IDF redeployment, with one senior US official citing a minimum of 60 days and a final timeline contingent on a comprehensive Iran-Lebanon agreement.
According to N12's report, the senior Israeli figure insisted that Israel retains full freedom of action to strike any emerging threat in areas under its control. The defense establishment has signaled that while the IDF will not strike if the ceasefire is maintained, it will not formally cede ground under the current terms. The gap between the US and Israeli positions leaves the emerging memorandum's Lebanon clause unresolved as talks continue.
4 developments
- StrongIsrael insists no withdrawal from Lebanon under understandings with Iran
- DevelopingAl-Hadath: US pressures Israel for tangible progress in Lebanon talks
- StrongIsrael vows to press military campaign in Lebanon despite Iran's warnings
- DevelopingIDF maintains operations in southern Lebanon, military says
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake