Al Mayadeen, citing Israeli media, reports this morning that Israel has no intention of pulling out of southern Lebanon and that the so-called Israel-Lebanon “framework agreement” is actually constructed to allow that to happen. They cite a report from Haaretz that claims the Israeli military has not yet received any order to withdraw from any area in Lebanon. Furthermore, the IDF doesn’t even occupy the two locations chosen as “pilot zones” for trial withdrawals. The report referred to a US proposal to train Lebanese forces for deployment in “demilitarized” zones as a replacement for Israeli troops, suggesting Washington is actively engaged in shaping post-conflict security arrangements.
Al Mayadeen goes on to cite Channel 12 News on a number of points: the agreement commits both parties to no fixed timelines; implementation depends solely on the verification of specific field conditions; Israeli withdrawal is not automatic, it hinges on what Israel defines as “ground success,” measured by its own unilateral assessments.
