Netanyahu Signals Rejection of Withdrawal from Lebanon

Tel Aviv, MINA –  Israeli media cited officials close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that he informed US President Donald Trump that Israel does not intend to withdraw from Lebanon under any emerging understandings linked to regional negotiations.

Quoted from Al-Mayadeen on Monday, according to these reports, Israeli forces will remain in their current positions in southern Lebanon and continue what Tel Aviv describes as operations aimed at preventing threats from Hezbollah.

Netanyahu also reportedly rejected any linkage between developments on the Lebanese front and broader US-Iran diplomatic arrangements, insisting that “Israel” would not be bound by agreements affecting its military posture.

Israeli political figures across the governing coalition expressed support for maintaining occupation deployments in Lebanon and other theaters.

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“Israel’s” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was quoted in Israeli media as arguing that any attempt to connect the Lebanese and Iranian fronts should be resisted, while also emphasizing the importance of preserving military deterrence without direct confrontation with Washington.

Other ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, reportedly stated that any US-brokered agreement with Iran would not be binding on “Israel”, asserting that Tel Aviv would continue to determine its own security policy independently.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen and Transport Minister Miri Regev also stressed the need to maintain what they described as clear deterrence while avoiding unnecessary escalation with the US administration. []

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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