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Tag: Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon

Lebanese PM, speaker urge clear timetable for Israeli withdrawal
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A view from Christian-majority border towns of Kawkaba and Ebel as-Saqi in the Marjayoun and Hasbaya districts of Lebanon on July 06, 2026. [Ramiz Dallah – Anadolu Agency]
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri discussed the military track of the negotiation framework and developments in southern Lebanon with US officials on Friday, Anadolu reports.
The Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers said in a statement that Salam received US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and Gen. Joseph Clearfield, head of the military coordination group for Lebanon.
The meeting addressed the military track of the negotiation framework, along with the latest developments in southern Lebanon, the presidency added.
“Salam stressed the need for Israel to stop destruction operations, expand the scope of pilot areas, and set a clear timetable for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory,” the statement said.
In a related development, Berri met in Beirut with the US ambassador and Clearfield, his office said.
According to a statement from Berri’s office, the meeting discussed conditions in southern Lebanon and the group’s work following the start of identifying “pilot areas,” as well as the mechanism for verifying an Israeli withdrawal and deploying the Lebanese army.
“Israel has not stopped its violations and attacks on Lebanon,” Berri said, pointing to the continued destruction of villages, bulldozing of fields and agricultural areas, burning of forested areas, and targeting of heritage sites.
READ: Lebanon banker exposed as major force behind normalisation drive with Israel
“The key to stability remains forcing Israel to stop its war and withdraw to the international border,” Berri added.
After the meeting, the US ambassador described the atmosphere as “positive.”
Issa told reporters that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel “will continue,” without specifying a date for the next round, according to the statement.
Discussions on expanding the “pilot areas” would follow an evaluation of the current areas, while consultations were still ongoing on countries that would participate in the monitoring mechanism, he added.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tel Aviv would not withdraw from Lebanon unless Hezbollah is disarmed.
Speaking at a ceremony, Katz said the Israeli army currently controls 700 square kilometers of Lebanese territory, about 7% of Lebanon’s total area, according to Israel’s Channel 7.
On Wednesday, a US State Department official said a permanent Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon would contradict commitments included in the framework agreement and would not serve peace.
Israel has continued its assault on Lebanon since March 2, killing 4,335 people and injuring 12,277 others, while displacing more than 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous war between 2023 and 2024. During the current assault, it has advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
READ: Israeli army attacks southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings despite framework deal
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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15 August 2026
Hezbollah rejects Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem.[Houssam Shbaro – Anadolu Agency]
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Thursday rejected the outcomes of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, Anadolu Agency reports.
In a statement marking the death anniversary of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, Qassem said the outcomes of the negotiations “are completely rejected by broad segments of the Lebanese people.”
He said the US-backed ceasefire understandings reflected American and Israeli visions for Lebanon’s future and sought to subject the country to what he called the “Greater Israel project.”
A joint Lebanese-US-Israeli statement announced early Thursday that Beirut and Tel Aviv had agreed during talks in Washington to implement a ceasefire based on a complete halt to Hezbollah fire and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah members from the area south of the Litani River.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the US would determine the timing and mechanism for implementing the ceasefire, which could begin within 24 hours of receiving approval.
READ: Israeli army crosses Litani River, reaches outskirts of Nabatieh city
The Hezbollah leader accused Israel of attempting “to achieve politically what it had failed to accomplish militarily.”
He added that Israeli settlements in northern Israel “will not be safe” as long as Lebanese villages remain under attack.
“We are only concerned with ending the aggression, securing a ceasefire, and ensuring Israel’s withdrawal,” he said.
Qassem stressed that any ceasefire must apply across all Lebanese territory, adding that as long as the Israeli occupation continues, “the resistance will continue.”
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023–2024 conflict. During the current offensive, Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory, marking their deepest incursion since 2000.
More than 3,500 people have been killed and over 10,000 injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanese officials.
READ: Israeli businessman claims Trump threatened Netanyahu through his wife over Lebanon plans
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
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5 June 2026

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