Two IDF sources on Thursday denied reports that Israel has withdrawn from some of the buffer zones in southern Lebanon created during its war with Hezbollah.
Earlier, a US State Department official claimed that IDF had withdrawn from the buffer zones, adding that Lebanon's armed forces should now step in.
A senior Lebanese security official also said they were unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli troops from the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
"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 said.
"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 added.
Israel planned 'pilot' to withdraw from southern Lebanon
During the recent negotiations between Beirut and Jerusalem, Israel and the IDF offered a very modest withdrawal, possibly from places like Tibnin and the Ali Taher Ridge, which the IDF only took over last week.
According to the IDF concept, it would withdraw from some of the newest areas it has taken over to see if the Lebanese army will properly clean out Hezbollah from those areas.
Some Israeli officials are trying to draw a distinction between withdrawing from areas where Hezbollah would have a direct line of sight to fire on Israeli northern villages and areas where there would be no such direct line of sight.
However, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah – while disagreeing on many issues - are both pushing for a faster and wider withdrawal.
There are multiple withdrawal line options.
Until May 26, Israel had not crossed over the Litani River or the Wadi Saluki area, and the IDF could withdraw initially to that prior line.
Next, there are at least three lines of Lebanese villages in southern Lebanon that the IDF has overrun, and it could withdraw backward to any of those lines.
For example, most IDF forces in fall 2024 had only advanced to the first line of villages.
This could involve going backward from 10 kilometers or more into southern Lebanon back to three to five kilometers into the country.
Eventually, the IDF might even withdraw to its five outposts, which were only several hundred meters into southern Lebanon, and which it withdrew to in February 2025.
Yet, given that the IDF took four months to withdraw in that round of fighting, it is expected that any IDF withdrawals will first test Hezbollah's continued ceasefire compliance as well as the Lebanese army's willingness to confront and remove Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure from the south of the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have given the impression that the IDF will remain in parts of southern Lebanon for many months or even years to press Hezbollah to disarm.