Israel in "Stubborn Negotiations" With US to Prevent Lebanon Troop Withdrawal

Israel has entered into high-stakes negotiations with the U.S. to sustain its military deployment in southern Lebanon, directly challenging the withdrawal provisions of a newly signed U.S.-Iran security accord.

The bilateral discussions come one day after Washington and Tehran signed an interim pact mandating that the parties ensure Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Israeli officials talking to Reuters confirmed Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively resisting calls to vacate the captured territories.

Demands for a Buffer Zone

Israel expanded its military invasion of southern Lebanon after Hezbollah initiated cross-border fire on March 2.

The subsequent air and ground campaign has been characterized by Tel Aviv as an effort to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.

The territory seized in Lebanon, alongside occupied areas in Gaza and Syria, is classified by Israeli strategists as vital "buffer zones." This concept has become a core pillar of Israel's current regional security framework.

Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected international demands for a full military withdrawal from these border sectors.

Refusal to Withdraw

A senior Israeli official close to the prime minister described the current diplomatic track with Washington as "stubborn negotiations" regarding the future of the troop deployment.

The official stressed that Israel will not alter its position on maintaining a forward military presence south of Lebanon's Litani River.

The stance sets up a direct diplomatic confrontation with the explicit text of the U.S.-Iran agreement.

The strategic friction underscores the growing divergence between Washington's broader regional diplomacy and Israel's unilateral security priorities.

The Trump Factor

The final outcome of the border dispute remains contingent on the White House's administrative response.

A second Israeli official noted that the situation will depend entirely on whether U.S. President Donald Trump decides to force the issue.

The administration holds the leverage to threaten specific repercussions if Israel refuses to abide by the interim pact.

Netanyahu's office has so far declined to offer an official comment on the progression of the talks.