A senior US official stated that an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is not a condition for the emerging agreement, adding that if Hezbollah attacks, Israel retains its right to self-defense, according to a report by Barak Ravid (N12).
A senior US official made a significant statement Monday evening, telling Israeli media that an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is not a precondition for the emerging US-brokered agreement, and that Israel's right to self-defense against Hezbollah is preserved. The remark, reported by Barak Ravid (N12), appears to address Israeli concerns that the framework would tie Jerusalem's hands in Lebanon.
This follows a series of reports covered by The Zioneer over recent days: on Friday, a senior US official said no country would waive self-defense rights under the Iran deal; Saturday saw a US official state that no withdrawal demand would come until a final Iran-Lebanon accord (at least 60 days); and Monday afternoon a senior Israeli official said the Lebanon line holds. The new statement — coming from a different U.S. official — reinforces the message that Washington is not demanding an immediate Israeli pullout.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly told President Trump that Israel is not bound by any Lebanon clause, and several Israeli ministers have publicly rejected linking the Lebanon front to the Iran nuclear deal. The statement adds to the accumulating on-record U.S. assurances. What remains the central open question is the exact linkage — if any — between a final US-Iran nuclear framework and the situation on Israel's northern border.
3 developments
- DevelopingSenior US official: Israel won't be asked to leave Lebanon until final Iran-Lebanon deal — at least 60 days
- DevelopingTrump Says He Does Not Demand Lebanon Be Part of Iran Agreement
- DevelopingUS official: Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon not a condition for Iran deal, self-defense right retained
- StrongTrump says he hopes the Lebanon situation can be resolved, acknowledges Hezbollah
Source and signal
- Internal intake