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Israel will not leave Lebanon but won't strike if ceasefire holds, sources say
The Jerusalem Post • • world
Key Points:
- Israel has stated it will not withdraw from southern Lebanon as part of the newly agreed US-Iran deal, despite demands from Iran, according to an Israeli source.
- The IDF confirmed that if Hezbollah respects the ceasefire, there will be no attacks from Lebanon, aligning with the ceasefire terms announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Hours before the US-Iran deal was finalized, Israel conducted airstrikes on Beirut's Dahiyeh district in response to Hezbollah fire, with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasizing Israel's intolerance for attacks on its territory.
- The IDF notified US CENTCOM prior to the strike, and US President Donald Trump publicly criticized the Israeli attacks, calling them unnecessary on a day close to a peace deal with Iran.
- Trump acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense but described the threat from Hezbollah as "very small and meaningless," urging restraint to maintain progress toward peace.
