Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled a potential breakthrough in de-escalating tensions with Lebanon, stating that Israel could withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon if the Lebanese government successfully disarms Hezbollah by the end of 2025. Netanyahu described Lebanon’s recent cabinet decision to pursue Hezbollah’s disarmament as “momentous,” suggesting that reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of Israel’s military presence, would follow if the plan is implemented.
The Israel-Hezbollah war, which ended in November 2024 with a US-brokered ceasefire, left Hezbollah significantly weakened, with many of its leaders killed and its military capabilities diminished. The conflict, sparked a day after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, resulted in over 4,000 deaths and $11 billion in damages. Since the ceasefire, Hezbollah has withdrawn most of its fighters and weapons from south of the Litani River, but tensions persist due to Israel’s control of five strategic hills in Lebanon and its near-daily airstrikes, which have killed or injured hundreds, primarily Hezbollah members.
Hezbollah’s leadership has resisted disarmament, arguing that the ceasefire agreement only applies south of the Litani River and accusing Lebanon’s government of serving Israel’s interests. Meanwhile, Israel and the US insist the deal mandates nationwide disarmament of the Iran-backed group. Israel claims the hills provide critical vantage points overlooking northern Israeli communities, where 60,000 residents were displaced during the war.
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Beirut faces intense US pressure to disarm Hezbollah, but the group remains defiant, refusing to discuss disarmament until Israel halts airstrikes and withdraws from the occupied hills. The vague terms of the ceasefire agreement regarding Hezbollah’s military facilities north of the Litani River continue to fuel disputes, complicating efforts to achieve lasting stability in the region.
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