Welcoming Beirut’s decision to disarm Hezbollah, PM’s office says Israel will reduce military presence in Lebanon in return

Israel will implement a phased reduction of its military presence in Lebanon as a “reciprocal measure” if the Lebanese government takes “necessary steps” toward the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement.

If the Lebanese Armed Forces “take the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism,” the statement reads.

“Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations,” it continues.

The PMO praises Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for their recent “momentous decision” to work toward Hezbollah’s disarmament by the end of the year, calling the move “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.”

The statement comes a day after top US envoy Tom Barrack, accompanied by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, reportedly met in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials to discuss Syria and Lebanon.

Barrack said in Beirut last week that Israel should comply with a plan under which Hezbollah would be disarmed by the end of the year in exchange for a halt to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

Last week, Axios reported that Washington had asked Israel to scale back “non-urgent” military action in Lebanon, warning that continued IDF strikes risk undermining Beirut’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The US also reportedly pressed Israel to consider withdrawing from one of five outposts the IDF has established inside Lebanon.