Israel has withdrawn from part of southern Lebanon security zone, US official claims

Israel has withdrawn from some of the southern Lebanese territory it has seized in its war with Hezbollah, a US State Department official says, adding that Lebanon’s armed forces should now step in.

There is no immediate comment from Israel. A senior Lebanese security official says they are unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli troops from its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon.

The State Department official does not say how much territory Israel withdrew from or where exactly the pullback occurred. Israel and Lebanon have been holding US-brokered talks in Washington aimed in part at halting fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

“Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone. This is a significant demonstration of good faith toward Lebanon’s legitimate government,” the official says.

“The [Lebanese Armed Forces] should now move in and verifiably clear out terrorist weapons and infrastructure. This model will be repeated across South Lebanon, enabling the safe return of displaced families, reconstruction of the south, and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty,” the official adds.