Israeli officials insist that the emerging understandings with Iran will not require an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, according to Channel 14. The statement separates the nuclear-track diplomacy from the ongoing military campaign to protect northern Israel.
Channel 14 reported Monday evening that Israeli officials are insisting the emerging understandings with Iran will not require an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, drawing a clear separation between the nuclear-track diplomacy and the ongoing military campaign.
This marks the latest in a series of Israeli statements on the issue. The Zioneer reported Monday morning (all times Jerusalem) that at 10:04, an Israeli source told i24NEWS Israel would not be required to withdraw under the emerging framework, while the rules of engagement remained undefined. At 16:14, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel must not accept any US-Iran ceasefire, and by 18:27 senior Israeli officials told Ynet that the US now understands Israel will not compromise on staying in Lebanon. The Channel 14 report at 20:38 reinforces that red line.
The Zioneer previously reported on Sunday (19:37 Jerusalem) that Channel 14 journalist Noam Amir said the US is pressuring Iran not to retaliate for a strike in Beirut's Dahieh to keep the nuclear deal on track, and that Iran may bring Lebanon into the equation. On Friday (11:55 Jerusalem), a senior Israeli official said Iran's effort to link the Lebanon and nuclear fronts has failed.
It remains unclear whether Iran's reported demand to include Lebanon in any deal is still being pressed in ongoing talks, and what the precise boundaries of Israeli freedom of action are.
5 developments
- StrongIsrael's US envoy: No withdrawal from southern Lebanon under Iran deal
- StrongIran demands full IDF withdrawal from Lebanon; Israel publicly rejects, says it will not retreat
- DevelopingUS sources tell Lebanese network: Lebanon not part of Iran deal; no condition for IDF withdrawal
- DevelopingIsraeli officials dismiss reports of IDF withdrawal from points in Lebanon
Source and signal
- Open-source intake