US Official Says Israel Pulling Back in South Lebanon as a Goodwill Gesture

A senior State Department official told Reuters on Thursday that Israel has withdrawn from part of its buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The official said the Lebanese Armed Forces must now enter the area Israel vacated, and described the move as a “gesture of goodwill” toward the Lebanese government.

The report comes as Washington tries to broker an Israeli-Lebanese pilot arrangement under which the Lebanese army would take security responsibility for selected areas in southern Lebanon, while Israel would keep a military presence in the buffer zone. According to the emerging plan, Lebanese soldiers would first undergo strict background checks in the United States to ensure they have no Hezbollah ties, and only then receive the mission. Israeli officials have also confirmed to Reuters that talks are under way on a trial mechanism for the gradual transfer of territory.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday at the Muniexpo conference that “Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, even if the United States demands it.” Despite that statement, the reported framework would leave Israeli forces inside the separation zone to monitor implementation.

Separately, US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper is expected to visit Israel for meetings with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Katz, at Zamir’s invitation. No date has been set, but the visit has been announced tentatively. The planned meeting comes amid ongoing Washington-Theran negotiations and the Lebanese front’s role in those talks, while Iran has repeatedly said the activity in Lebanon is unacceptable to it and is directly tied to the mood in the negotiations.