Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel does not intend to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and will maintain a security zone there as long as necessary.
The Israeli leader spoke at an official ceremony marking the revival of Highway 60, the north-south highway from Nazareth to Beersheba via the West Bank. He explained his refusal to withdraw forces from Lebanon because of the security of the northern part of the country:
We will restore security and prosperity to the communities of the North. To do this, it is necessary to maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon. To do this, we must not leave there as long as Israel’s security needs require it.
Israel, along with the United States, has been fighting Iran and its proxy in Lebanon, the Hezbollah group, since February.
Yesterday, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, a kind of initial agreement to end the war. Among other things, this document stipulates the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit on June 17 in public criticize Israeli measures against Hezbollah, describing them as excessively aggressive.
According to Reuters, Jerusalem is conducting “difficult negotiations” with Washington regarding the issue of the continued presence of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.