A senior Lebanese source told LBCI that Washington informed Beirut of a planned limited Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, framed as a goodwill gesture before negotiations scheduled for Tuesday, according to a single-source report.
A senior Lebanese source told the LBCI network that Washington informed Beirut of a planned limited Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, described as a goodwill gesture ahead of Tuesday's negotiations. The report was cited by Israeli journalist Yaron Avraham. It remains a single-source claim and has not yet been confirmed by Israeli or American officials.
The development comes as our thread on this issue moved rapidly tonight. At 20:19 Jerusalem on Sunday, we reported a first report that Israel was considering tactical pullbacks, including near Beaufort Castle. Minutes later, another report indicated the pullbacks were being weighed specifically ahead of talks. By the same time, the Lebanese broadcaster LBCI reported that Lebanon received official US notification of planned limited Israeli withdrawals. Also at 20:19 Jerusalem, we reported the IDF is set to reduce forces in southern Lebanon ahead of a pilot phase, amid US pressure. The single-source claim has thus been corroborated by the Lebanese official channel, though no Israeli or US confirmation has emerged. Earlier background reports from The Zioneer noted US efforts to tie Israeli withdrawal to Iranian de-escalation (June 14) and that the IDF said the withdrawal would be discussed in US talks next week (June 18).
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday (June 21, 19:52 Jerusalem), Israel was advancing a diplomatic initiative in Lebanon to ease Trump pressure, with the IDF chief of staff sounding a cautionary note. A separate report from June 13 indicated the US was set to allow the Lebanese army to return south of the Litani alongside an Israeli withdrawal.
The scope and conditions of the reported limited withdrawals remain unconfirmed. No Israeli or American official has publicly confirmed the move, and the specific areas, timeline, and whether this constitutes a goodwill gesture or part of a broader plan remain unclear.
5 developments
- DevelopingIDF says Lebanon withdrawal to be discussed in US talks next week
- DevelopingReport: US trying to persuade Iran with offer tying withdrawal to de-escalation
- DevelopingIranian sources: senior negotiators furious; claim Israel was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon overnight
- DevelopingSenior US official: Israel won't be asked to leave Lebanon until final Iran-Lebanon deal — at least 60 days
Source and signal
- Internal intake