Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials have denied reports of an Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanon. This denial follows a statement from a U.S. official claiming Israel had pulled back some troops as a good faith gesture toward the Lebanese government.
Despite these tensions, the Israeli and Lebanese governments are discussing U.S.-proposed areas in southern Lebanon where Beirut could demonstrate its ability to exclude Hezbollah. However, Israel has rejected Lebanon's proposal for so-called pilot areas within the buffer zone along the border.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has asserted that Israel must withdraw from Lebanon unconditionally and humiliated. As efforts toward an agreement continue, Qassem has maintained that there will be no normalization and no gains for Israel.
Meanwhile, leaders insist that forces will remain in all three territories for as long as deemed necessary, regardless of international pressure and diplomatic efforts. This comes as the first such order has been issued since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.