Analyst warns Washington talks could push Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon

Middle East analyst Yoni Ben Menachem warned on Monday, in an interview with Tal Meir, that ahead of the opening of talks in Washington between the Israeli and Lebanese delegations, American officials are already pushing for an Israeli withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon. He said security sources told him that discussion has already begun about pulling Israel out of captured positions, including Beaufort Castle, before Hezbollah is disarmed.

Ben Menachem said the United States is trying to dictate Israel’s exit from Lebanon before the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons is resolved. “Our sons are falling there, and now they want to fold us up without any serious solution that guarantees the safety of the residents of the north,” he said, warning that the situation is “extremely dangerous” because of the risk of Radwan Force incursions, anti-tank missile fire, and rockets.

The article said one of the latest proposals associated with U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at restraining Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, was to let Syria, under Ahmad al-Sharaa, known as al-Jolani, take responsibility for disarming Hezbollah instead of Israel. On Sunday, al-Jolani rejected that idea outright in an interview with the Al Mashhad channel.

He said Syria only wishes well for Lebanon’s residents and could play a positive role. “Syria may help in disarming Hezbollah, but not through war and not through Syrian guardianship over Lebanon, as was the case under the previous regime,” he said.