Netanyahu Signals Israel May Exit Lebanon If Hezbollah Disarms/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced Israel may begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon if Hezbollah is disarmed by year-end. This follows Lebanon’s cabinet decision and U.S. diplomatic pressure. The potential shift hinges on mutual trust and Hezbollah’s compliance.
Hezbollah Disarmament and Israeli Withdrawal: Quick Looks
- Netanyahu says Israel could withdraw if Hezbollah disarms by end of 2025.
- Lebanon’s cabinet supports disarming the Iran-backed militant group.
- Hezbollah opposes disarmament unless Israel pulls back and halts strikes.
- U.S. envoy Tom Barrack urges both sides to act in good faith.
- War from 2023-2024 caused $11.1 billion in damage to Lebanon.
- Ceasefire terms disputed—Israel and Hezbollah interpret them differently.
- Hezbollah has mostly withdrawn from southern Lebanon since the truce.
- Tensions remain over Israeli-held strategic hills and airstrike activity.
Netanyahu Signals Israel May Exit Lebanon If Hezbollah Disarms
Deep Look
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is open to a phased military withdrawal from southern Lebanon if Hezbollah follows through with disarmament plans announced by the Lebanese government. The development signals a potential turning point in the aftermath of a devastating 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Speaking on Monday, Netanyahu referred to Lebanon’s recent “momentous decision” to begin the disarmament process targeting the Iran-backed militant group by the end of 2025. He described the move as a significant step toward regional stability and offered Israeli withdrawal as a “reciprocal gesture.”
This offer, however, comes amid a delicate and mistrustful atmosphere. Hezbollah officials remain defiant, asserting that any disarmament would only follow Israeli withdrawal from five strategic hills inside Lebanon and the cessation of Israeli airstrikes. These strikes, ongoing since the November 2024 ceasefire, have resulted in hundreds of casualties—most of them Hezbollah fighters.
As of now, Lebanese authorities have not officially responded to Netanyahu’s statement. However, political observers believe Beirut is under increasing international pressure—especially from Washington—to curtail Hezbollah’s military capabilities. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who visited both Israel and Lebanon in recent weeks, has been mediating to stabilize the ceasefire and ensure that commitments on both sides are fulfilled.
In Lebanon, Barrack emphasized that “the Lebanese government has done their part” and called on Israel to respond accordingly, reinforcing expectations of mutual concessions.
The reconstruction of war-torn southern and eastern Lebanon remains a major concern. The World Bank estimates damages from the conflict at $11.1 billion, and future international aid is widely expected to be linked to Hezbollah’s disarmament. The Lebanese government, facing severe economic challenges, must now navigate a tightrope between appeasing global allies and avoiding internal upheaval.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Kassem has been openly resistant to any forced disarmament, warning of potential civil unrest if pressure escalates. The militant group accuses the Lebanese government of serving Israeli and American interests, suggesting that the disarmament initiative is not domestically driven but externally influenced.
From Israel’s perspective, Hezbollah remains a security threat, despite its weakened state post-war. Israeli military officials argue that the five Lebanese hills under their control provide strategic defense advantages and serve as deterrents. They have also raised concerns that Hezbollah is attempting to rearm in violation of the ceasefire.
Since the truce was declared, Hezbollah has pulled back most of its fighters and heavy weaponry from areas south of the Litani River, which previously served as a flashpoint. However, the ceasefire agreement is ambiguous regarding how Hezbollah’s infrastructure north of the river should be addressed. Israel and the U.S. maintain the deal includes nationwide disarmament, while Hezbollah claims it only applies to the southern zone.
This disagreement highlights the fragile nature of the peace and the complexity of enforcing disarmament without renewed violence.
The broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in October 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel following the Hamas-led attack from Gaza. That initial flare-up evolved into a full-scale war by September 2024, leaving more than 4,000 people dead and displacing tens of thousands, including 60,000 Israelis from northern communities.
As of now, the situation remains tense but static. Much depends on Lebanon’s ability to maintain political unity around disarmament efforts—and on Israel’s willingness to reciprocate with a phased withdrawal and reduced military operations.
While the prospect of peace remains uncertain, Netanyahu’s statement marks a significant diplomatic overture that could shape the next chapter of Israeli-Lebanese relations.
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