JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON Israel declared on Thursday that it will not pull its forces out of southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah is completely disarmed, hardening its stance just as U.S.-mediated negotiations between the two sides entered their final day in Washington.
“We will not withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, are not disarmed and are not demilitarised,” government spokesman David Mencer told journalists, reiterating Jerusalem’s security red line.
The Israeli military has been conducting widespread airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon since March, when the Iran-backed militia joined the broader Middle East conflict in support of its patron. The U.S. has since pressured both nations to open direct talks, which began in April.
As the latest three-day round of negotiations wraps up on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism, saying the two neighbors were close to a “commitment of intent.”
However, Mencer struck a firm note, insisting that any redeployment of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would come after not before the complete demilitarization of southern Lebanon.
“Our responsibility is to our northern citizens and to the whole of Israel.
We will not allow any terrorist force anywhere near our border,” Mencer said, adding pointedly: “We’ve already been in this situation in 2024. Hezbollah were supposed to be disarmed. They weren’t.”
With the talks set to conclude, Israel’s position leaves the ball firmly in Hezbollah’s court, while the U.S. pushes for a framework that could de-escalate one of the region’s most volatile fronts.
