IDF redeployment hinges on Hezbollah disarmament, US officials say ahead of Netanyahu-Trump summit

Senior US administration officials have outlined a clear condition for Israel's troop withdrawal from Lebanese territory: the disarmament of Hezbollah and the full restoration of Lebanese state sovereignty. This framework was communicated ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

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The framework sets out a clear, conditions-based deal between Israel and Lebanon: Israel will redeploy its troops from Lebanese territory in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the restoration of the Lebanese state’s sovereignty over its entire territory.

The officials emphasized that the proposed deal is conditions-based, aiming to achieve three primary goals: re-establishing Lebanese sovereignty, dismantling Hezbollah's "terrorist infrastructure," and ensuring secure borders for Israel once the security threat is removed. They indicated that the initial redeployment of IDF troops in the Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh area, which began last week, is a direct result of prior talks between Israel and Lebanon and that the US is committed to facilitating the plan's full implementation.

While the focus remains on the Lebanon-Hezbollah situation, the officials were notably reticent when questioned about a potential Israeli withdrawal from Syria. The conversation also touched upon Iran's nuclear program, with Netanyahu expected to press Trump for action, despite ongoing indirect communications between Washington and Tehran. Trump acknowledged that while he and Netanyahu are "pretty close" on the Iran issue, a "small difference" remains.

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The officials said that when the pilot program began last week, the IDF also started redeploying troops in the Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh area. They added that the move was a direct result of talks held between Israel and Lebanon in Rome about 10 days earlier, and that the US would continue working with both sides until the framework was fully implemented.

Despite the diplomatic efforts and ongoing redeployments, the officials suggested that Netanyahu's influence over Trump may have diminished. This assessment is attributed to internal US administration pressures, criticism from the American Right regarding Trump's alignment with Netanyahu, and persistent high gasoline prices in the US. The context of the meeting also includes the aftermath of the campaign against Iran and information Netanyahu plans to present regarding Iran's nuclear advancements.

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We’re pretty close. There’s a small difference between us, but we’re pretty close.