Netanyahu signals possible Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon if Hezbollah disarmed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed what he called a “momentous decision” by the Lebanese government to begin disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 — a move he said could pave the way for Israel to begin a phased military withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu said that if Beirut follows through on concrete steps to dismantle Hezbollah’s armed infrastructure, Israel would respond with “reciprocal measures,” including a gradual reduction of its troop presence in Lebanese territory, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The announcement comes amid continued international efforts to solidify the fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States last November, which ended a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah. That conflict left thousands dead and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border.

Hezbollah, however, has rejected the disarmament plan, accusing the Lebanese cabinet of serving Israeli interests. The Iran-backed group insists it will not surrender its weapons until Israel withdraws from five disputed strategic hills in southern Lebanon and halts its ongoing aerial operations in Lebanese territory. Israeli airstrikes, which have persisted despite the ceasefire, have reportedly killed or wounded hundreds, mostly Hezbollah fighters.

The United States has been pressuring the Lebanese government to assert full sovereignty and disarm Hezbollah, which has suffered heavy losses in both leadership and military capacity since the war. Yet Hezbollah’s leadership remains defiant, vowing to maintain its arms as a deterrent against future Israeli aggression.

Since the ceasefire, Hezbollah has pulled most of its fighters and weapons from the border region south of the Litani River. However, a dispute remains over the scope of the disarmament. While Hezbollah contends the agreement applies only to the southern border region, both Israel and the U.S. insist the deal mandates the group’s full disarmament across all of Lebanon.

By Sabina Mammadli