Israel and U.S. Clash Over Troop Deployment in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli senior official said Thursday, in comments to Reuters, that Israel is in “tough negotiations” with the United States over whether to keep its forces deployed in southern Lebanon. The official added that “Israel has no intention of withdrawing from its positions.”

The remarks came after the Israeli Air Force struck and destroyed a launcher from which rockets had been fired at an IDF force in southern Lebanon. The article did not say when the rockets were launched, but it linked the strike to the continuing fighting along the border.

The dispute sharpened after U.S. President Donald Trump used a speech at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday night to criticize Israel’s conduct. Trump said, “I think you can act a little more gently regarding Lebanon. Bibi and I have a small disagreement on this, maybe you don’t need to blow up a building every time someone from Hezbollah goes into it.”

Trump also said, “Israel could have done a better job on Hezbollah. I am not saying they should not defend themselves, but they could definitely have handled this better.” Referring to civilians in the area, he said people are “living their lives” while buildings collapse on them or near them, and asked, “Would you want to live there?”

On the latest Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, Trump said, “That was a very big strike, in my opinion, it was not necessary.”