Israeli and Lebanese officials on Thursday pushed back against a U.S. claim that Israel had begun withdrawing troops from parts of southern Lebanon, underscoring the deep disagreements that continue to cloud efforts to stabilize the border region.
The denial came after a U.S. State Department official said Israel had taken a “significant demonstration of good faith” by pulling back forces from part of its occupied zone in southern Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon have been engaged in U.S.-mediated talks aimed at creating a framework for transferring control of some occupied territory to the Lebanese Armed Forces, a move seen as a possible first step toward restoring Lebanese authority in the south after months of conflict with Hezbollah.
The proposal centers on a pilot scheme under which Israeli troops would vacate specific areas and allow the Lebanese military to move in. Discussions resumed in Washington this week, although they have increasingly been overshadowed by broader U.S.-Iran negotiations in which Lebanon has become a key issue.
The U.S. official said Israel had already withdrawn from part of what it calls a buffer zone along the border and urged the Lebanese army to take control of the area and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.
“This model will be repeated across South Lebanon,” the official said, adding that the process could eventually pave the way for reconstruction, the return of displaced residents and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty.
But officials on both sides disputed that any withdrawal had actually taken place.
A senior Israeli defence official flatly denied that Israeli forces had pulled back from any part of the buffer zone, insisting that no such move had occurred. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said any future redeployment would depend on the demilitarization of southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
On the Lebanese side, a senior military official said recent developments pointed to the exact opposite of a withdrawal.
“The situation on the ground shows no sign of a pullback,” the official said, noting that Israeli forces continue to enforce restrictions across the occupied area and have prevented both civilians and Lebanese army personnel from entering.
Israel’s military also said there had been no change in troop positions.
The buffer zone, established by Israel during its campaign against Hezbollah, stretches roughly 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory. Israeli forces have emptied villages, carried out raids and demolished buildings throughout the area.
Israeli officials argue the zone is necessary to protect northern communities from future Hezbollah attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israeli troops will remain there for as long as necessary.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high despite a ceasefire.
Three people were killed on Thursday when an Israeli air strike targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese security and medical sources. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out a strike but did not immediately provide further details.
The attack came just one day after a similar deadly strike, raising fresh concerns about the durability of the truce.
According to Israeli officials, current discussions focus on territory located north of the buffer zone rather than areas within it. Lebanese officials, however, want any pilot withdrawal plan to begin inside the occupied zone and eventually lead to a full Israeli withdrawal under a clear timeline.
A second Lebanese military official said negotiations have become bogged down over how the proposal would be implemented.
Lebanon is pushing for a comprehensive roadmap that would lead to Israel’s complete withdrawal from occupied territory, while Israel prefers a phased approach, negotiating each area separately without committing to a broader timetable.
For now, Israeli military officials say they have received no instructions to hand over any positions and will continue preventing Lebanese troops and civilians from entering the buffer zone.
“We will not allow the Lebanese army to move south of the security line,” one Israeli military official said.
