Washington, United States. Lebanon and Israel are discussing a U.S.-backed proposal for Israeli forces to withdraw from some territory seized in southern Lebanon and hand control to the Lebanese army, officials on both sides said. The proposal is being discussed during talks in Washington.
Talks continue in Washington
The proposed pilot project is being examined in the latest round of Israeli-Lebanese talks, which are continuing even after appearing to be overshadowed by Iran’s move to make Lebanon central to its talks with the United States.
Military situation in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces seized a swathe of southern Lebanon during the war that began when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel in support of Tehran, days after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
A ceasefire has largely held since Sunday, marking the longest lull in the fighting so far. However, Israeli forces remain deployed deep inside southern Lebanon, saying their presence is needed to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, even if the United States demanded it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said Israel would remain in Lebanon for as long as necessary.
Details of the proposal
Israeli officials said Lebanese troops involved in the U.S.-backed proposal would undergo U.S. training and vetting to ensure they are not linked to Hezbollah. They said Israel would maintain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border.
A senior Lebanese security official, asked about the Israeli officials’ comments, said discussions were ongoing in Washington and that specific military-to-military talks, including on the pilot zones, were due to take place on Wednesday.
Lebanese position
The Lebanese official said the discussions would focus on a timeline for Israeli withdrawal and that any plan would emerge only after the final day of talks on Thursday. The official did not respond to a request for comment on the Israeli officials’ account of U.S. vetting of Lebanese troops.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told a British-German delegation that discussions on the proposed pilot areas were ongoing and awaiting Israeli approval, according to the Lebanese presidency.