An Israeli official tells Axios that Prime Minister Netanyahu informed President Trump that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah is disarmed. The statement reiterates a position the prime minister has conveyed in recent days amid ongoing diplomatic discussions over the northern front.
An Israeli official told Axios that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a clear message to US President Donald Trump early Thursday: Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah is fully disarmed. The remark, reported by a source familiar with the exchange, reinforces an emerging pattern. Over recent days, as The Zioneer has reported, Netanyahu has told Trump that the IDF will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza despite the US-Iran agreement; that ongoing strikes in southern Lebanon have caused only light casualties and that he expects no Hezbollah response; and that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon clause in the US-Iran framework. Thursday's report adds a specific condition—disarmament of Hezbollah as a prerequisite for any Israeli withdrawal—sharpening the prime minister's stance as diplomatic engagement on the northern front continues. The official spoke on condition of anonymity; Axios has not published direct quotes or an on-record confirmation.
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- DevelopingTrump presses Netanyahu to withdraw from Lebanon by Friday
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