Israel and Lebanon Near Limited Withdrawal Pilot in South Lebanon

Despite official statements that Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon, a pilot deal is taking shape in American-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon that would involve a limited Israeli pullback from territory controlled by the IDF. The plan was first reported this week by News 12 and was discussed on Thursday evening, June 25, 2026.

Under the emerging arrangement, the IDF would leave a small section of land, part of it south of the Litani River, which Israel says has been cleared “to the maximum” of Hezbollah presence. The Lebanese army would then enter the area, while the United States would oversee implementation through its forces in the region.

An Israeli source told N12 that progress in the fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington is being made cautiously and step by step. “We are managing to advance inch by inch,” the source said. “If this succeeds, we will see the pilot expand.”

Several major disputes remain, including the size of the territory Israel would vacate, the exact borders of the zone, and the pace of the withdrawal. Lebanon wants a larger area, while Israel is seeking to limit the retreat as much as possible within the yellow line. Israel also wants to move gradually and assess whether the Lebanese army can hold the area without Hezbollah. The current round of talks is scheduled to end after three straight days at the US State Department, with the broader goal of proving the process is not being dictated by Iran or by Hezbollah pressure.