Reuters: Israel Withdraws Troops from Parts of Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has withdrawn its troops from parts of the buffer zone it had established in southern Lebanon, Reuters reported on Thursday, June 25, citing a U.S. State Department official.

The official stated, "Israel has withdrawn from some of the southern Lebanese territory it occupied during the war with Hezbollah," adding that "the Lebanese Armed Forces must now enter those areas."

However, the official did not provide specific details regarding the scale of the territory vacated or the exact locations of the withdrawal.

The official further assessed the move, saying, "By pulling back troops from parts of the buffer zone, Israel has already taken concrete steps," and described it as "an important gesture of goodwill toward the Lebanese government."

"Now, the Lebanese Armed Forces must enter these areas to verify and remove terrorist weapons and infrastructure in a verifiable manner," the official emphasized. "This model will be expanded across southern Lebanon, which will enable the safe return of displaced families, the reconstruction of the southern region, and the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty."

Israel has not issued an official response regarding this report.

However, a senior Israeli official denied that the report was true.

A senior Lebanese security official also stated that they were unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli forces from the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon are currently engaged in U.S.-mediated talks in Washington aimed at ending the hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently touring the Middle East, emphasized in Kuwait the day before the plan to establish and expand so-called "pilot zones," where the Lebanese Armed Forces would enter and take control of areas currently held by the Israeli military to maintain security.

"The Lebanese Armed Forces and the Lebanese government need to increasingly control and secure more of their own territory," Secretary Rubio said. "The more areas the Lebanese military secures, the less territory Hezbollah controls, and the more Israel will reduce its presence in Lebanon. That is the core of these negotiations."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.