Israel weighs limited Lebanon pullback ahead of Washington talks

One of the locations being discussed is the Beaufort Castle area, a site that has become a point of disagreement among officials involved in the deliberations.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel is weighing limited troop withdrawals from selected positions in southern Lebanon ahead of a new round of talks with Lebanon in Washington on Tuesday while insisting it will maintain control of positions along the Yellow Line, Israeli officials said.

The discussions come after a series of consultations between Israel’s political and security leadership and parallel contacts between Jerusalem and Washington focused on the upcoming negotiations.

Officials familiar with the talks said the United States has not requested an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but Israeli decision-makers are examining whether selective redeployments could be presented as part of an Israeli initiative.

Among the options under review are withdrawals from areas where the Israel Defense Forces currently operate beyond the 10-kilometer line.

One of the locations being discussed is the Beaufort Castle area, a site that has become a point of disagreement among officials involved in the deliberations.

Some officials argue that Beaufort carries significant symbolic value and should remain under Israeli control.

Others believe that leaving the position could signal a willingness to advance dialogue with Lebanon and improve the atmosphere surrounding the negotiations.

Israeli officials stressed that any such move would not affect Israel’s presence along the Yellow Line. “The Yellow Line is a red line,” officials said, adding that maintaining those positions is viewed as essential both for protecting northern communities and preserving leverage in ongoing negotiations.

The upcoming talks are a continuation of a U.S.-mediated process launched last month.

Israel has sought to tie any future withdrawals from southern Lebanon to tangible actions by the Lebanese army against Hezbollah.

As diplomatic preparations continue, the IDF said forces from the 91st Division uncovered a strategic underground Hezbollah facility in the village of Majdal Zoun, about 10 kilometers from the Israeli border. The military said the site was part of infrastructure used to launch drones toward Israel.

President Isaac Herzog told Fox News that Israel seeks a political arrangement with Lebanon but said, “It is impossible to talk about peace when Hezbollah has hijacked Lebanon.” He also called for Iran to be removed from the equation and for Hezbollah to be disarmed.