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Israel ready to withdraw troops from Lebanon as talks continue in Rome
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Israel ready to withdraw troops from Lebanon as talks continue in Rome

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Israel is ready to proceed with withdrawing troops from two southern Lebanon areas as part of a US-brokered framework agreement.
  • The deal aims for an end to the war in Lebanon, disarmament of Hezbollah, and deployment of Lebanese troops in the south.
  • Negotiations face challenges as Hezbollah rejects the agreement, and Israel insists on preventing Hezbollah presence in withdrawn zones.

Israel is prepared to advance troop withdrawals from two zones in southern Lebanon, signaling readiness to implement a framework agreement brokered by the U.S. The agreement, negotiated over several rounds, aims to end the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, facilitate the disarmament of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, and see Lebanese troops deployed in the south as Israeli forces pull back.

I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it.

— Gideon SaarIsraeli Foreign Minister commenting on the ongoing negotiations in Rome.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed optimism about the current round of talks in Rome, stating, "I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it." Lebanese negotiators have been instructed to demand the immediate start of Israeli withdrawal from the designated zones. A Lebanese diplomatic source indicated the Lebanese army is prepared to gradually assume control of these areas.

The Lebanese army is ready to gradually take control of the localities from which the Israeli army would withdraw.

— Lebanese diplomatic sourceA source familiar with the negotiations discussing the potential handover of territory.

However, expectations for a breakthrough are tempered by Hezbollah's outright rejection of the proposed agreement, despite pressure from the Lebanese government. Orna Mizrahi of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv highlighted Israel's condition for a gradual withdrawal: ensuring no Hezbollah presence in the evacuated areas and that the Lebanese army can maintain them as neutralized zones.

Israel was willing to withdraw gradually, but on the condition that there will be no presence of Hezbollah in the areas that Israel is withdrawing from.

— Orna MizrahiAnalyst from the Institute for National Security Studies explaining Israel's conditions for withdrawal.

Despite a fragile ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued limited strikes and demolitions in occupied villages, according to Lebanese state media. The conflict, which began in early March, has resulted in over 4,300 deaths according to Lebanese authorities. Analysts suggest the chances of a significant breakthrough in the Rome talks remain limited.

The chances of a breakthrough in Rome are quite limited.

— Karim BitarAn analyst commenting on the prospects of the negotiations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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