Israel to Withdraw Troops from Lebanon After Hezbollah Weapons Seized

Israel said on Monday it would only withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon after Hezbollah was disarmed, as the two countries engaged in US-mediated talks in Washington.

The Israeli military has launched a wide-ranging air assault on Lebanon and sent troops into the country's south, after Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, entered the Middle East war on the side of its backers in March following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

"We will not withdraw our troops from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, has not been disarmed, and has not been demilitarised," Israeli Government spokesman David Mencer said in a briefing to reporters, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (25/6).

Under US pressure, Lebanese officials began direct talks with Israel in April in Washington.

The latest three-day round of talks is scheduled to end on Thursday local time.

Commenting on the negotiations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two neighboring countries were close to reaching a "commitment of intent."

When asked about the talks, Mencer said: "We stress very clearly, our responsibility is to our citizens in the north and to all of Israel, and we will not allow any terrorist force to approach our borders - which means that any redeployment of IDF forces will be carried out after, not before, but after the demilitarization of southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah."

"We have been in this situation in 2024," he continued.

"Hizbullah should have been disarmed. However, that did not happen," said Mencer.