Israel, Lebanon discuss US-backed proposal for transfer of some southern territory to Lebanese army

Talks between Israel and Lebanon include discussion of a US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to hand over ‌some of the territory they have invaded during the war with Hizbollah ​to the ⁠Lebanese military, according to Israeli and Lebanese officials.

The Israeli ‌officials said the Lebanese ‌troops involved would undergo US training and vetting to ensure they are not linked to Iran-backed Hizbollah, while Israel would maintain a military presence in a ‌buffer zone along the border.

The proposed "pilot" project is being discussed in the latest ⁠round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials, which got underway in Washington on Tuesday.

Rejected by Hizbollah, this diplomatic track has been overshadowed as Tehran has made Lebanon a focal point of its negotiations with the US.

Asked about the Israeli officials' comments, a senior Lebanese security official said discussions ​were ongoing in Washington and that Wednesday would see specific military-to-military discussions, ‌including on the pilot zones.

The Lebanese flag flutters as residents cool off in the Mediterranean Sea in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on Tuesday, days after the city saw numerous Israeli military strikes. AFP

The Lebanese official said the discussions would focus on a timeline for withdrawal and that any plan would emerge only after ⁠the final day of talks on Thursday. The official did not respond to a request for comment on the Israeli officials' account of US vetting of Lebanese ​troops.

The ‌latest war between Hizbollah and Israel erupted when the group opened fire ‌at Israel in solidarity with Tehran in the early days of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

A ceasefire has largely held since Sunday, even as Israeli forces have ‌remained deployed ‌deep inside southern Lebanon, where they have ⁠seized a self-declared security zone, saying they need this to ‌shield northern Israel from a Hezbollah attack.

The interim agreement signed by Iran and the US last week requires both countries and ⁠their allies to declare an immediate and permanent end of ​military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and to ensure Lebanon's "territorial integrity and sovereignty."

Reuters