Rubio backs Israel’s stance on Hezbollah as U.S. CENTCOM chief heads to Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that one idea in the Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington is to create pilot zones, specific areas where the Lebanese Army would move in, take control and secure the ground before moving on to the next zone. He said the goal is to let the Lebanese Army prove it can make areas “Hezbollah-free.”

Rubio made the remarks while visiting Kuwait, after being asked about Israel’s insistence on remaining in Lebanese territory. He said Israel is in Lebanon because Hezbollah launches rockets and drones from there, and added that the hope is for the “legitimate and sovereign” Lebanese government and army to take control of more territory. “The Israelis were clear, they have no conflict with the Lebanese people,” Rubio said. “The only reason Israel is in Lebanon is that Hezbollah is firing at its citizens. If it wasn’t, they would not be there.”

He also said the process will take time. “This will be a process,” Rubio said. “We want to see a Lebanon that is under the control of its legitimate government, and that there is no foreign government invading its territory.”

Meanwhile, Ynet reported that U.S. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper will arrive in Israel on Thursday to meet IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The talks are expected to focus on Iran, Lebanon, intelligence updates, security coordination, northern-border developments, Hezbollah and continued cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. military. Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the security cabinet last week that he had told President Donald Trump, “I am doing what you would do to protect your citizens,” and that he had set Israel’s red lines in Lebanon, including holding the Beaufort area and responding if attacked.