According to the Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, citing its own sources, Israel presented four demands to Lebanon in the fifth round of US-mediated talks opened yesterday in Washington. The demands include: (1) the Lebanese Army takes control of the Ali Taher ridge, evicts Hezbollah operatives and destroys its infrastructure there, under American supervision, after which the IDF would withdraw from Tarbikha and Zoutar; (2) exchange of Ron Arad's remains for Hezbollah prisoners held in Israel; (3) Israel remains in a 'security zone' with no Lebanese civilian or military access; (4) direct IDF-Lebanese Army communication without UNIFIL mediation.
The Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, citing its sources, published a list of four demands it says Israel presented to Lebanon in the fifth round of US-mediated talks that opened Tuesday in Washington.
The first demand would see the Lebanese Armed Forces take control of the Ali Taher ridge, expel Hezbollah operatives and dismantle its infrastructure there under American supervision — a condition the IDF has previously raised, as The Zioneer reported on June 23. Once completed, the IDF would withdraw from the villages of Tarbikha and Zoutar. The second demand proposes an exchange of the remains of navigator Ron Arad for Hezbollah prisoners held in Israel. The third stipulates that Israel would remain in a 'security zone' barring access to Lebanese civilians and soldiers. The fourth demands direct IDF–Lebanese Army communication, cutting out UNIFIL.
The report, attributed by Al-Akhbar to its own sources, has not yet been confirmed by Israeli or American officials. The fifth round of talks follows weeks of US-mediated diplomatic efforts that have seen the IDF advance ground operations along the border ridge and the Lebanese army begin deploying in adjacent areas. A previous report, cited by The Zioneer on June 23, noted that Israel had asked the Lebanese army to deploy at Ali Taher ridge ahead of a withdrawal. The current list — if accurate — appears to formalize several tracks into an explicit package.
What remains open: the source is a single Hezbollah-aligned newspaper; no official Israeli or Lebanese confirmation has been issued. The list may represent a negotiating position or a partial leak rather than the full Israeli proposal.
- DevelopingUS source: Israel asked Lebanese army to deploy at Ali Taher ridge before withdrawal
- StrongIsrael demands demilitarization of south Lebanon and full operational freedom as condition for IDF withdrawal
- StrongIran demands full IDF withdrawal from Lebanon; Israel publicly rejects, says it will not retreat
- DevelopingReport: US struggles to convince Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake