Israel's prime minister offers 'phased' withdrawal if Lebanon disarms Hezbollah

  In spite of a November ceasefire, Israel maintains that it will continue to strike Lebanon until Hezbollah disarms.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that Israel is prepared to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and proposed a "phased" withdrawal of Israeli troops if the Lebanese government proceeds with plans to acquire the group's weapons. 

Following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, the Lebanese army has been increasing its presence in the southern region and has been working to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure. 

Lebanon is facing challenges related to disarming Hezbollah. This month, the cabinet instructed the army to develop a plan for this by the end of the year. 

Despite the ceasefire in November that concluded the warfare, Israel has continued its military actions in Lebanon, maintaining that it will persist until Hezbollah is disarmed. 

Israeli forces also continue to occupy five strategically important areas in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu, in a statement from his office, expressed that "Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations." Israel acknowledged the "significant step taken by the Lebanese government" in this context. 

If the Lebanese government acts on the plan, Netanyahu indicated that Israel is ready to consider "reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF (military) presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism." 

On the same day, the Israeli military announced that it had "eliminated" a Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon and affirmed that it would continue operations to address threats to Israeli citizens. 

Hezbollah, the only group that retained its weapons after Lebanon's civil war (1975-1990), was left significantly weakened following last year’s conflict with Israel. 

Earlier this month, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem expressed intentions to resist the Lebanese government's disarmament plans for his group. 

Last week, US envoy Tom Barrack urged Israel to uphold its commitments stemming from the ceasefire that concluded hostilities with Hezbollah. "There’s always a step-by-step approach but I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply," Barrack remarked during discussions with Lebanese officials in Beirut. 

Israeli media reported over the weekend that Barrack had also visited Israel. 

Lebanon’s official National News Agency indicated on Monday that US deputy envoy Morgan Ortagus had arrived in Beirut for meetings with government officials. 

The Israeli statement coincided with the upcoming vote by the United Nations Security Council regarding the future of the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, which has encountered opposition from the US and Israel. 

The council is set to vote on a French-drafted compromise that would maintain the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), originally deployed in 1978 to create a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, for an additional year as preparations for withdrawal continue. 

This resolution aims to extend the force’s mandate until August 31, 2026.