In a potentially game-changing development on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out the possibility of a phased IDF withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as a rolling back of air force strikes there, should Hezbollah agree to the Lebanese government’s order to disarm.
IDF troops invaded southern Lebanon on September 30, 2024, and mostly withdrew in February of this year. However, five outposts, which include a complement of several hundred or more soldiers, still remain a few hundred meters into the country.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, the military has carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah, and while these have slowed, becoming more selective after the November 2024 ceasefire, the air force never stopped the strikes. It still often carries out a few such attacks per week.
Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin, who recently stepped down as the IDF’s Northern Command chief, told The Jerusalem Post during a recent embedded visit to one of the IDF outposts in Lebanon, that he would rather risk another war with Hezbollah than stop striking it – at least until it agrees to disarm.
Not long ago, under heavy American and Saudi pressure, the Lebanese government passed a decision to disarm Hezbollah.
To date, Hezbollah has refused to disarm, whereby some say it has engaged in “revolving door” games of disarming – by which it provides its weapons to the Lebanese Army, then quietly receives them back.
Netanyahu said on Monday, “Israel acknowledges the significant step taken by the Lebanese government under the leadership of President [Joseph] Aoun and Prime Minister [Nawaf] Salam.”
“The recent decision by the Council of Ministers of Lebanon to work toward the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025 was momentous. It marks a crucial opportunity for Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty and restore the authority of its state institutions, military, and governance – free from the influence of non-state actors,” he continued.
“In light of this important development, Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together toward a more secure and stable future for both nations,” Netanyahu said. “Suppose the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) takes the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah. In that case, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism.”
“Now is the time for both Israel and Lebanon to move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared objective of disarming Hezbollah and promoting the stability and prosperity of both nations,” he said.
US envoys Barrack, Ortagus meet with Netanyahu in Israel to discuss Lebanon, Syria
Thomas Barrack, a top US envoy, and Morgan Ortagus, a US special deputy envoy, arrived in Israel on Sunday and met with Netanyahu to discuss issues concerning Lebanon and Syria, a source familiar with the matter told the Post.
The envoys spoke to the prime minister regarding negotiations with Syria as well as America’s request that Israel restrain its strikes in Lebanon.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee joined the two envoys in their meetings with Netanyahu.
Barrack also reportedly met with Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Ortagus and Barrack were set to travel to Lebanon on Monday following the conclusion of their visit to Jerusalem. Senior Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham will join the envoys in Beirut, the Post exclusively revealed.
The US officials asked Israel to work with them to advance the possibility of Lebanon’s government dismantling Hezbollah.
Senior Israeli officials were told that if concrete results were achieved on the ground, specifically, if the LAF truly starts disarming Hezbollah, Israel would be expected to “step back” and allow the Lebanese authorities to take the lead.
The emphasis, however, was such that the Israeli restraint would only be warranted if genuine steps toward disarmament were underway.
By next week, the Lebanese government and army are expected to finalize the implementation of the plan to disarm Hezbollah. The visit of the American envoys underscores Washington’s intent to ensure that the plan is not merely symbolic but actually implemented.
The view in Washington is that Aoun and Salam are taking a courageous step, but that the real test would be on the ground.
Further, by having Graham, who is the chair of the Senate Budget Committee, join Ortagus and Barrack, the US is signaling to Beirut that if it acts to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, it will receive economic assistance, including measures to strengthen the LAF.
Gulf states have also made it clear to Beirut that they will not assist in rebuilding Lebanon’s devastated south, which was heavily damaged after two years of conflict, unless decisive measures are taken to disarm Hezbollah.
Their concern is that any reconstruction carried out while Hezbollah remains active would primarily benefit the terrorist organization.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.