The withdrawal is underway from certain areas of the security zone in southern Lebanon, and Lebanese army forces will deploy in the vacated positions, according to a US official cited by Reuters on Thursday. The report did not specify which sectors are affected or the timeline of the pullout. No immediate comment from the IDF.
A US official told Reuters on Thursday that Israel is withdrawing from areas of its security zone in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army set to deploy in their place. The report, published at midday Jerusalem time, confirms earlier reports that a limited pullback is underway — following weeks of diplomatic pressure and stalled implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire understandings.
As The Zioneer reported concurrently (11:54 Jerusalem), the withdrawal follows earlier reports of negotiations over a US pilot plan for handover of territory. A separate earlier bulletin (11:56) also cited Reuters on a partial withdrawal from the security zone, without specifying exact locations or the extent of the pullback.
The IDF has not formally commented. The report does not indicate whether this is a one-time pullback or the beginning of a broader redeployment. The Lebanese army's role as the recipient of vacated positions was specified by the US official, consistent with the November 2024 ceasefire framework that mandated parallel Lebanese army deployment alongside an Israeli withdrawal.
5 developments
- DevelopingUS State Department says Israel withdrew from part of Lebanon buffer zone; IDF denies
- DevelopingIsrael advances diplomatic initiative in Lebanon to ease Trump pressure, sources say
- DevelopingIsraeli officials dismiss reports of IDF withdrawal from points in Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF says Lebanon withdrawal to be discussed in US talks next week
Source and signal
- Internal intake