Israeli authorities confirmed they will withdraw their troops from southern Lebanon only if Hezbollah agrees to disarm and reduce its forces, a condition the armed group has consistently rejected.
On Thursday, 25 Jun 2026 GMT+7, the Israeli government announced it will pull its troops out of southern Lebanon only if Hezbollah, backed by Iran, agrees to disarm, while both countries participate in U.S.-mediated talks in Washington, D.C.
The Israeli military launched extensive airstrikes in Lebanon and deployed troops to the country's south after Hezbollah joined the Middle East conflict in early March to aid Iran, which was heavily targeted by the U.S. and Israel.
David Menser, an Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters, “We will not withdraw our troops from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, is not disarmed, and has not reduced its military strength.”
Regarding the negotiation progress, Lebanese officials began direct talks with Israel in Washington last April. The latest round, ongoing for three days, is scheduled to conclude this Thursday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the talks, saying the two neighboring countries are close to reaching a shared consensus.
When asked about the negotiations, Menser said, “We are making our position clear that we must protect the people in northern and all of Israel. We will not allow any terrorist forces near our border, which means adjustments to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will occur only after—not before—Hezbollah disarms and reduces its forces in southern Lebanon.”
“We have faced this situation before in 2024,” Menser added. “Back then, Hezbollah was supposed to disarm but did not.”
.cna