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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

IDF to remain in Lebanon if Hezbollah refuses to leave pilot zones, Ambassador Leiter says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israel will only withdraw its forces from Lebanon if Hezbollah is removed from designated zones, according to Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter.
  • Leiter stated that Israel and Lebanon share the goal of removing Hezbollah for their mutual security and sovereignty.
  • He also indicated that Iran has no role in Lebanon and that Israel would support U.S. action against the Islamic Republic if requested.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter asserted that the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon is contingent on Hezbollah's removal from designated pilot zones. "If Hezbollah is going to stay there, we haven't accomplished anything, and that's why they're called pilot zones," Leiter explained in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." He stressed that the withdrawal plan is not delayed and depends on the Lebanese Armed Forces being receptive to these zones.

If Hezbollah is going to stay there, we haven't accomplished anything, and that's why they're called pilot zones. If it works, then we continue the withdrawal. If it doesn't work, then we stay where we are.

— Yechiel LeiterAmbassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter on the conditions for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon.

Leiter emphasized that Hezbollah has no place in Lebanon, stating, "Hezbollah has no business in Lebanon." He added that both Israel and Lebanon desire Hezbollah's dismantling for their security and sovereignty. "We can withdraw the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled," he said. He also drew a parallel to Hamas's actions on October 7, highlighting Israel's refusal to return to a state of being threatened by an Iranian terror proxy on its border.

Hezbollah has no business in Lebanon. As a matter of fact, Israel and Lebanon are on the same page. We want Hezbollah out for our security and for their sovereignty. We can withdraw the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled.

— Yechiel LeiterAmbassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter explaining the shared interest in removing Hezbollah.

Regarding Iran's involvement, Leiter stated that the Islamic regime "has no business" in the region and that any agreement with Lebanon would completely remove Iran from the equation. He affirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump has been consistent in his stance against Iran, and Israel would join U.S. military action against the Islamic Republic if called upon. "We're a partner, we're an ally," Leiter said. "If the United States calls on us to rejoin kinetic activity agains."

What the agreement with Lebanon does is completely remove Iran from the paradigm. Iran is not to be involved in Lebanon.

— Yechiel LeiterAmbassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter on Iran's exclusion from regional agreements.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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