The Israeli occupation military has not received any directive to withdraw from Lebanese territory, according to sources cited by Haaretz, casting fresh uncertainty over the implementation of a recently announced US brokered framework agreement between the two countries.
While Haaretz reported that Israeli occupation forces are not currently stationed in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, political and military echelons are reportedly advancing a withdrawal from that specific locality as part of a broader strategic pullback package. However, a comprehensive order for a wider retreat from other areas remains outstanding, underscoring the tentative nature of the current security arrangements.
In parallel developments, Israel’s Channel 12 reported Sunday evening that Washington has proposed training Lebanese military forces to eventually take over “demilitarized” zones a move intended to supplant the current Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployment. The same report indicated that while the full text of the ‘Israel’-Lebanon agreement has been published, including on the U.S. State Department’s website, a critical security annex remains classified. Channel 12 attributed the secrecy directly to an explicit request from the Lebanese government in Beirut.
Crucially, the agreement sidesteps fixed timelines. According to Israeli broadcasters, any troop movements will be triggered not by calendar dates but by the fulfillment of specific field conditions. This provision effectively grants Israel significant leverage over its own phased withdrawal, tying each step to what officials term “success on the ground” and the empirical testing of operational results.
Signaling a potentially protracted military commitment, Israel’s Channel 14 reported that following the signing, the Israeli security and defense establishments are actively gearing up for a military footprint in southern Lebanon that could persist for years.
The framework, announced by the United States on Friday, has drawn starkly contrasting responses. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the deal as a diplomatic achievement while simultaneously acknowledging the continued reality of Israeli occupation in the south. His sentiments were echoed by senior ministers and military brass, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who offered public praise for the arrangement’s strategic merits.
Conversely, the announcement has ignited a firestorm of opposition across Lebanon. Angry protests have erupted in several regions, accompanied by categorical rejections from prominent political and public figures who have denounced the course of action. The widespread backlash reflects deep-seated resistance to any legitimization of the Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil, threatening to further destabilize the fragile domestic landscape.
Source: Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)