Netanyahu rules out Lebanon pullback despite US-Iran ceasefire push
Israel’s prime minister said troops will stay in occupied parts of Lebanon, adding strain to a ceasefire plan tied to Iran and regional fronts.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will keep its forces in occupied areas of Lebanon, a position that could strain a ceasefire effort involving the United States and Iran. Al Jazeera, citing its staff and news agencies, reported that Netanyahu made the pledge Monday as a deal linked to fighting on several regional fronts appeared to be taking shape.
Netanyahu told reporters that Israeli troops would remain in what he called a security buffer zone in Lebanon "for as long as necessary," according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that Israel occupies about 570 square kilometers, or 220 square miles, of Lebanese territory.
Al Jazeera reported that Israel has been at war with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, since October 2023. The conflict has killed more than 3,000 people, according to the report.
Ceasefire plan adds pressure
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Sunday that the United States and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement, according to Al Jazeera. Sharif said a memorandum of understanding would call for the immediate and permanent halt of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Al Jazeera reported that unconfirmed details indicate Lebanon would be included in the deal expected to be signed Friday. Netanyahu’s comments are likely to increase tension around the agreement, which the outlet described as fragile.
Israel began cross-border raids into Lebanon in October 2024, and the fighting later became a full-scale invasion, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that Israeli forces now hold territory beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon, past the endpoint Israel had set for its self-declared security zone.
Netanyahu said Israel would keep acting against what he called Iran’s armed proxies and would have to remain on guard against Tehran, Al Jazeera reported. He also said Israel’s war with Iran had benefited the country, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Beirut strike and US concerns
Israel struck Beirut’s suburbs on Sunday, killing three people, according to Al Jazeera. The report said the attack was viewed as crossing one of Iran’s red lines connected to the US-Iran deal.
Al Jazeera reported that the strike angered US President Donald Trump, who feared it could harm the ceasefire effort. Despite threats of Iranian retaliation, the memorandum of understanding tied to the agreement was signed Sunday night, according to the outlet.
Netanyahu has disagreed with Trump in private, according to reports cited by Al Jazeera, while facing criticism from both Israel’s opposition and right wing over the emergence of the US-Iran arrangement. During Monday’s news conference, Netanyahu said he and Trump do not see eye to eye in every case, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also rejected a withdrawal on Monday, according to Al Jazeera. Katz said he and Netanyahu support keeping Israeli forces in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza without a deadline, and oppose leaving Lebanon despite current or future pressure.
Al Jazeera reported that hardline Israelis fear an end to the war with Iran could force Israel to end its invasions of Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. The outlet said Israel occupies about 1,000 square kilometers, or 386 square miles, of territory in Gaza.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.