A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Jerusalem insists on maintaining its military presence in southern Lebanon and is conducting intense negotiations with Washington on the matter, according to the report. The statement comes amid reported American pressure for progress in talks with Lebanon.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters on Thursday that Israel is insisting on maintaining its military positions in southern Lebanon and is conducting intense negotiations with the United States over the issue. The official's statement, reported by the international news agency, underscores the gap between Jerusalem's security demands and Washington's push for an Israeli withdrawal as part of diplomatic understandings with Beirut.
The report follows a similar bulletin by The Zioneer at 11:23 Thursday, in which officials described Israel as holding "tough talks" with the US over the IDF's continued presence in southern Lebanon. Both reports cite a single Israeli official, with no corroboration from American or Lebanese sources.
Earlier coverage by The Zioneer — including an article published Saturday and several background reports dating to June 8-14 — has traced US efforts to broker a framework linking Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon to de-escalation with Iran and Hezbollah. The official's latest remarks suggest that Israel is not bending under the reported American pressure, at least at this stage. What remains unverified: whether the talks have produced any proposal or timeline, and whether the US has tied the issue to any broader incentives or constraints.
5 developments
- StrongIsrael insists no withdrawal from Lebanon under understandings with Iran
- DevelopingIran says it will not accept Israeli forces remaining in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingReport: US trying to persuade Iran with offer tying withdrawal to de-escalation
- DevelopingIsrael seeks to fast-track Lebanon agreement before full US-Iran deal is finalized
Source and signal
- Internal intake