"A goodwill measure toward the Lebanese government…Lebanese Army must enter the withdrawal zone"
Israeli government spokesperson denies…Lebanese senior official is unaware
Israeli soldiers patrolling near the Lebanese border
Reuters reported on the 25th (local time), citing a U.S. State Department official, that Israeli forces withdrew troops from part of a buffer zone they had established in southern Lebanon. However, Israeli authorities denied the reports about the withdrawal.
The official stated, "Israel withdrew from parts of southern Lebanese territory it had occupied during its war with Hezbollah," adding that "Lebanese regular forces must now enter that area."
The official did not provide specific details about the scale of the Israeli withdrawal or the exact withdrawal points.
The official continued, "Israel has already taken concrete action by withdrawing troops from part of the buffer zone," and assessed this as "an important gesture of goodwill toward the Lebanese government."
He further stated, "Now the Lebanese government forces must enter here and remove terrorist weapons and infrastructure in a way that can be verified," emphasizing that "this model will be expanded throughout southern Lebanon, through which the safe return of refugee families, reconstruction of the southern region, and full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty will be possible."
However, Israel denied the withdrawal reports.
According to AFP, David Mencer, Israeli government spokesperson, stated at a press briefing, "Hezbollah remains a threat, and as long as their weapons are not disarmed or de-weaponized, we will not withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon."
A senior Lebanese security official said he was unaware that Israeli forces had withdrawn from the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon are holding talks in Washington under U.S. mediation as part of efforts to cease hostilities between Hezbollah, an armed faction supported by Iran, and Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting the Middle East, emphasized the previous day in Kuwait the establishment and expansion of so-called "pilot zones" where Lebanese government forces would enter, take control, and maintain security in parts of southern Lebanon currently controlled by Israeli forces.
He said, "Lebanese government forces and the Lebanese government must increasingly control and secure their own territory," adding that "the more zones the Lebanese Army secures, the less area Hezbollah controls, and accordingly, Israel will also reduce (occupied areas) in Lebanon. That is the core of this negotiation."
Rubio stated that in the fifth direct talks between Lebanon and Israel held this week, both sides came close to signing a letter of intent on reducing troop deployments in southern Lebanon.
However, Spokesperson Mencer said, "We will not allow any terrorist forces to exist near the border," emphasizing that "Israeli military redeployment means it will occur after the de-weaponization of southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's disarmament."
He further raised his voice, saying, "We already experienced the same situation in 2024. At that time, Hezbollah was supposed to be disarmed, but they did not keep their promises."
meolakim@yna.co.kr
