A new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon opened on Tuesday in Washington, with both countries’ ambassadors to the United States present and Israel Defense Forces representatives at the rank of brigadier general. According to Kan News, the goal is to settle the initial details of an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon as part of a pilot implementation involving the Lebanese Army.
The talks come two days after the United States agreed to create a mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations in Lebanon, a forum that will include Iran and Qatar but not Israel. People familiar with the matter said Israel had no realistic chance of joining because of Iran’s presence, and that Washington is expected to carry, or at least reflect, Israel’s position, while Iran will represent Hezbollah’s stance.
Kan News also reported that since Operation Arrows of Bashan at the end of February, Hezbollah has launched no fewer than 7,285 rockets and drones toward Israel. Lebanese newspaper Al Jadeed reported that the sides would discuss returning the remains of missing navigator Ron Arad, but Israeli officials denied that report.
On the ground, the IDF is awaiting political decisions expected Wednesday and is currently in a status of suspension in southern Lebanon. Israeli sources said the army is considering, potentially at American direction, a gradual pullback from some deeper areas of the Israeli security zone, allowing the Lebanese Army to return there as a confidence-building step. Over the past day, IDF forces have begun shifting units and reorganizing fighters in the field.
The IDF estimates that militants remain trapped in the roughly 600-kilometer security zone. Officials say there is no restriction on removing threats to troops, but many planned operations, including one on Ali Tahr Ridge, have been halted. Israel has passed detailed intelligence to the Americans about Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure there, seeking permission for the IDF to operate at the site. The Lebanese Army previously refused to go there, fearing a clash with Hezbollah.
