Israel says it will begin a phased reduction of its military presence in Lebanon if the Lebanese government moves to disarm Hezbollah. The Prime Minister’s Office called Lebanon’s decision to work toward disarmament by year’s end a “crucial opportunity” for the country to reclaim sovereignty and stability.
“Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts,” the statement read, emphasizing coordination with a US-led security mechanism.
The announcement followed meetings in Jerusalem between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Tom Barrack, who has been pressing Israel to scale back “non-urgent” military actions in Lebanon. Washington fears continued strikes could undermine Beirut’s progress on Hezbollah.
The US has reportedly urged Israel to consider withdrawing from at least one of its five outposts inside Lebanon. For now, Israel is signaling openness to a reciprocal process—if Beirut follows through.
