Israel and Lebanon Discuss Plan to Transfer Some Southern Territory to Lebanese Army
Under a US-backed proposal, Israeli forces would hand over some invaded territory to the Lebanese military, which would be trained and vetted by the US, while Israel maintains a presence in a buffer zone.
Talks in Washington
Israeli and Lebanese officials are discussing a US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to transfer some of the territory they seized during the war with Hezbollah to the Lebanese army. Israeli officials said the Lebanese troops involved would undergo US training and vetting to ensure they are not linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel would retain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border.
The proposed "pilot" project is being discussed in the latest round of talks that began in Washington on Tuesday. However, Hezbollah has rejected this diplomatic track, and the talks have been overshadowed by Tehran making Lebanon a focal point in its negotiations with the US.
Lebanese Official's Remarks
A senior Lebanese security official confirmed that discussions are ongoing in Washington, with specific military-to-military talks scheduled for Wednesday, including on the pilot zones. The official said the talks would focus on a timeline for withdrawal and that any plan would only emerge after the final day of discussions on Thursday. The official did not respond to a request for comment on the US vetting of Lebanese troops.
Context of the War
The latest war between Hezbollah and Israel erupted when Hezbollah opened fire on Israel in solidarity with Tehran during the early days of the US-Israeli war on Iran. A ceasefire has largely held since Sunday, even though Israeli forces remain deployed deep inside southern Lebanon, where they have established a self-declared security zone, citing the need to protect northern Israel from a Hezbollah attack.
The interim agreement signed by Iran and the US last week requires both countries and their allies to immediately and permanently end military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and to ensure Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
