Lebanon demands simultaneous Israeli exit for Hezbollah redeployment

Lebanon has said that any withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from the south of the country must be matched by a simultaneous pullout of Israeli troops, setting out conditions for a potential de-escalation along the border.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who serves as a mediator on behalf of Hezbollah in contacts with Lebanese authorities and the United States, said the group would only redeploy its fighters south of the Litani River under a reciprocal arrangement.

“Hezbollah will begin withdrawing its fighters from areas south of the Litani River only on the condition that, in parallel, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied areas is carried out,” Berri said.

He added that he would support such a framework only “in the event of an unconditional ceasefire on land, at sea and in the air,” underlining that a comprehensive halt to hostilities would be a prerequisite for any agreement.

Berri also voiced criticism of the understandings reached during Lebanese-Israeli talks held in Washington on June 2–3, describing them as “hybrid.” He rejected proposals to establish so-called experimental zones in southern Lebanon under the supervision of the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeeping forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova