Israel Demands Staged Withdrawal Linked to Hezbollah Dismantling in Lebanon Talks

A significant sticking point has emerged in ongoing Lebanon-Israel negotiations, with an American source telling Al Arabiya that the central disagreement centers on how the withdrawal process would begin. Israel has made clear its commitment to a "step for step" framework before relinquishing any of its current positions in southern Lebanon.

According to the American source, Israeli negotiators are pressing the Lebanese military to demonstrate concrete capability in dismantling Hezbollah's organizational structure. Beyond this broader requirement, Israel is also demanding tangible field-level actions from the Lebanese army as prerequisites to any Israeli withdrawal.

Specific Israeli demands include inspection of the Ali al-Taher tunnels to verify they are free of Hezbollah operatives, as well as confirmation that the Lebanese military has established a presence in Ali al-Taher before Israel proceeds with its pullback from the region.

The American source emphasized that Israel remains firmly attached to its "step for step" approach with Lebanon throughout the negotiation process.

The impasse reflects the broader trajectory of Lebanese-Israeli discussions, which continue with sustained emphasis on southern field arrangements and the precise mechanics of any Israeli withdrawal. The United States has maintained an active role in the negotiations, working to mediate between the parties and narrow their differences on these contentious issues.