US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee linked the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory to the Lebanese army reaching a level of strength and capability that would enable it to perform its role, as security developments and the military deployment in border areas remain central to the issue of southern Lebanon.
Huckabee said Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon until the Lebanese army became strong enough to assume its responsibilities. In a message intended to reassure the Lebanese, he stressed that Israel did not want to remain inside Lebanon and did not wish to annex parts of its territory. The ambassador explained that implementing the withdrawal depended on the development of the Lebanese military’s capabilities, enabling it to fulfil the role required of it.
Huckabee thus linked the timing of any Israeli withdrawal step to the Lebanese army’s operational readiness and its ability to deploy in the areas concerned. The remarks came amid continued debate over the Israeli withdrawal and the role of the Lebanese army in border areas.
Framework agreement sets out path for withdrawal and deployment
Lebanon and Israel had concluded a framework agreement on 26 June, following five rounds of direct negotiations held under US auspices. The agreement provided for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory they controlled in southern Lebanon, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese army, beginning in areas described as “experimental”.
Hostilities in Lebanon have eased since late June, following the Iranian-US memorandum of understanding and the conclusion of the framework agreement. Nevertheless, Israeli forces continue to control large areas of southern Lebanon, where they announced the establishment of a “security zone” extending up to 10 kilometres along the border, while continuing to carry out strikes and extensive demolition and blasting operations.
The war in the Middle East had spread to Lebanon from 2 March, after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, saying they were in “retaliation” for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israeli strikes since then have killed more than 4,300 people, according to the Lebanese authorities.
