The article describes the current IDF posture in south Lebanon during the ceasefire, saying Israeli forces are still deployed along a line up to about 10 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border. In the east, the army holds the Ali Tahr ridge, including the area of the former Delaat outpost above the Saluki, while in the west its forces are positioned near Nabatieh and as far as Majdal Zoun. The IDF is described as maintaining operational control of the high ground, including Beaufort and the ridges north of it, and acting against threats south of the Litani River.
According to the report, troops may destroy infrastructure, kill militants, and strike any immediate threat in those areas. Two main limits are outlined: the underground militant infrastructure, estimated at about 50 fighters north of Beaufort, and any action north of the Litani or farther away, which requires political authorization. Those broader rules are said to be under discussion in Washington at this time.
One idea reportedly being discussed is a pilot arrangement in which the IDF would withdraw from certain areas, the Lebanese army would move in, and the process would be tightly supervised by the United States. The article notes that previous such arrangements failed because the Lebanese army did not dismantle Hezbollah or seize its weapons.
Military decision-makers are said to view the current presence within roughly 10 kilometers of the border as necessary because it prevents anti-tank fire at Israeli troops and reduces the chance of infiltration into Israeli communities. At the same time, the deployment requires manpower, long supply movements, and leaves forces fixed in place, which the military considers undesirable. The article says that unless the talks between the United States and Iran are concluded, possibly after 60 or 100 days, Israel is not expected to withdraw from these positions.
