Retired Israeli officer warns withdrawal from Lebanon would be devastating

Retired Col. Prof. Gabi Siboni said in an interview Sunday on Galey Israel radio that reports about a possible deal with Iran, including an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, were deeply dangerous. He argued that if Israel pulls back from the security zone in Lebanon and allows Hezbollah to recover along the border, northern communities will be emptied and the result would amount to, in his words, "the result of a nuclear bomb being dropped."

Siboni said Israel must insist on maintaining a presence and add a new element to the equation. He said that whenever Hezbollah violates a ceasefire, Israel should respond disproportionately.

He illustrated that approach by saying that if Israel is struck by a single drone, it should "bring down buildings and hit infrastructure."