Israel and Lebanon Split Over How to Begin a Withdrawal

As talks between Israel and Lebanon continue in Washington, a U.S. source told Al Arabiya that the main dispute is the mechanism for starting an Israeli withdrawal. According to the source, Israel is tying any pullback to concrete steps on the ground by the Lebanese side and is insisting on a gradual, step by step process. That includes proof that the Lebanese army can dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the relevant areas.

The source said Israel also wants inspections of terror tunnels in the Ali al-Taher area in Lebanon to ensure they are free of Hezbollah operatives, and is demanding that the Lebanese army deploy there before any withdrawal is carried out. Israel is seeking on-the-ground guarantees that Lebanese forces can extend their control and prevent the return of Hezbollah military facilities.

Lebanon opened a new round of talks with Israel in Washington yesterday, determined to advance direct negotiations despite the shadow cast by Tehran’s decision to include the Lebanese file in its talks with the United States. Lebanese officials say direct negotiations are the only way to end the war that has raged since March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel in support of Iran, triggering Israeli air and ground strikes that have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.

However, four rounds of Lebanese-Israeli talks since April have failed to produce a permanent ceasefire. The longest quiet period in the fighting came this week after Iran and the United States agreed on a memorandum of understanding calling for a halt to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Lebanon says one of its main goals is an Israeli military withdrawal, while Israeli officials have said their forces will remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely. President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday, "We say today that we will not accept anything less than the end of the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon," Reuters reported. Israel says the upcoming talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a real peace agreement with Lebanon. Since 2025, the Lebanese government has moved cautiously to strip Hezbollah of its weapons without confronting the group directly, fearing civil conflict, while Hezbollah says it expects Iran to press for an Israeli withdrawal during its own talks with Washington and argues Beirut should follow that path instead of direct negotiations.