Israel and Lebanon discuss plan to hand over southern territoryhand over southern territory to Lebanese army
Israel and Lebanon are discussing a US-backed proposal under which Israeli forces would hand over parts of southern Lebanese territory, captured during the war with Hezbollah, to the Lebanese military.
This move could mark a first step in Israeli withdrawal from the south, aiming to restore Lebanese sovereignty in the region. The initiative matters as it follows a recently signed interim agreement between Iran and the US requiring an immediate end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Western Media
Western officials and media frame the proposal as a pilot plan for de-escalation, describing it as a US-backed step toward stabilizing the border and restoring Lebanese sovereignty through its national army.
Lebanese Perspective
Lebanese officials present the handover as a necessary restoration of territorial integrity, arguing that returning captured areas to the Lebanese Army affirms their state's sovereignty over the south rather than foreign occupation.
- The Lebanese Army has maintained a no-fly zone in southern Lebanon since 2000 to prevent unauthorized aerial activity by any group.
- Southern Lebanon has been under Israeli military occupation multiple times, most notably during the 1982–1984 and 2006 conflicts.
- Hezbollah controls most of the security apparatus in southern Lebanon, operating alongside but often independently of the Lebanese state.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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