Israeli and Lebanese officials are discussing a U.S.-backed proposal under which Israel would hand over some of the territory it has entered during the war with Hezbollah to the Lebanese military, according to Reuters reporting cited by multiple outlets. The talks are held in the context of managing the security situation along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Under the proposal described by officials, Lebanese troops would receive U.S. training and would be vetted to reduce the risk that they are linked to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group. While the territory transfer would involve Lebanese forces taking over control, Israel would retain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border. The details of the size of the area to be transferred and how the buffer zone would operate are not specified in the available reporting.
Both Israel and Lebanon continue discussing the concept, with Israeli and Lebanese officials involved in the negotiations and the United States playing a supporting role through its training and vetting requirements for Lebanese personnel.
