Israel Reaffirms Stance Against Withdrawal from Lebanon, Raising Questions for U.S.-Iran Negotiations

Despite repeated pressure from Iran, Israel maintains its position that it will not withdraw its troops deployed in southern Lebanon, drawing attention to whether this will affect follow-up negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed the stance that the military would not withdraw from southern Lebanon during a public discussion at a conference held in Tel Aviv on June 24 (local time), stating, "The Israel Defense Forces are prepared, and we will not back down."

Minister Katz added, "We have made it clear that we will not withdraw under any circumstances, and as of now, the U.S. side has not requested a withdrawal from Lebanon. This is a political achievement."

Katz's remarks came as Lebanon and Israel are discussing a Lebanese peace proposal supported by the United States.

The proposal includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, where they have invaded, and the transfer of control over the region to the Lebanese regular army.

Iran continues to exert pressure regarding the end of the war in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and head of the Iranian delegation for ceasefire negotiations, stated at the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting held in Azerbaijan on this day, "For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and furthermore, ending the war in Lebanon is as important as ending the war in Iran."

Meanwhile, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that at least two people were killed on this day in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Kfar Remman.

The Israeli military explained earlier this morning that it had attacked two Hezbollah militants who threatened its forces in Ali al-Taher, near the city of Nabatieh, and that it would continue military operations to eliminate imminent threats in the future.

In southern Lebanon, two people also lost their lives the previous day when the Israeli military opened fire targeting Hezbollah militants, and Hezbollah claimed that the Israeli military's fire was a clear violation of the ceasefire.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.