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A map published Thursday by the Israeli military indicates the security zone in which IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Office
A map published Thursday by the Israeli military indicates the security zone in which IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Office
Israel’s military published a map on Thursday showing an expanded zone of control for its troops in southern Lebanon, as Israeli officials told Reuters Israel was holding talks with the U.S. over continuing its deployment.
An interim pact signed on Wednesday to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran calls for an end to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and for parties to ensure “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”
Israel has rejected calls to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, which it invaded in March in response to rocket fire by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israeli attacks and the destruction of villages have killed thousands and set off a displacement crisis.
Hezbollah has continued to launch attacks on Israeli positions in the south this week, including with explosive drones that have killed and injured troops.
Two Israeli officials, including a senior official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel was holding talks with the U.S. over maintaining its troop deployment in southern Lebanon. The senior official described those talks as “stubborn”.
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A map published in April by the Israeli military indicates the security zone in which IDF soldiers were operating in southern Lebanon. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
A map published in April by the Israeli military indicates the security zone in which IDF soldiers were operating in southern Lebanon. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
The military, which in April published a map marking its so-called buffer zone in southern Lebanon, released a new map that shows its troops are operating several kilometres deeper into the country, including near the Hezbollah stronghold of Nabatieh north of the Litani River.
Israeli troops have been operating in some of those areas for several weeks, but the military had not yet published a map showing the expanded zone of control.
In the map published on Thursday, the military described the territory, marked in dark red, as: “The security zone in which IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon”.
The two Israeli officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks with Washington, said Israel would not back down on its position that its troops would remain deployed in Lebanon.
One of the officials said the outcome of the talks would ultimately depend on whether Trump “decides to force the issue” by threatening repercussions if Israel does not abide by the interim pact’s terms.