Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon’s “security zone,” despite a U.S.-Iran agreement that calls for Israeli withdrawal. In a statement and speech on Thursday, Netanyahu rules out any pullback “for the foreseeable future,” linking Israel’s continued presence to its security requirements and to the zone’s role in preventing attacks by Hezbollah toward northern Israel.
The outlets agree that Netanyahu frames the security zone as a buffer between Hezbollah and civilian communities, and he says Israel will stay as long as it deems the military presence necessary. CBS News reports the remarks as a direct refusal to follow the terms of the U.S.-Iran memorandum. Daily Sabah similarly reports Netanyahu’s rejection of a withdrawal.
The South China Morning Post adds that while Netanyahu justifies the area as a defensive barrier, Lebanon’s government views the territory differently, indicating tensions over the legitimacy and purpose of Israel’s presence. Overall, the reports describe a clear divergence between Israel’s stated position and the withdrawal expectation associated with the U.S.-Iran deal.
