Washington Understandings: Conflicting Reports Over a Partial Israeli Withdrawal from Southern Lebanon

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Conflicting statements have emerged regarding a reported partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon on the third day of the fifth round of negotiations hosted by Washington between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

According to Reuters, a U.S. State Department official stated on Thursday that Israel had withdrawn from certain areas it occupied in southern Lebanon during its war with Hezbollah, adding that the Lebanese Armed Forces should now move into those areas.

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However, a senior Lebanese security official said that he had no knowledge of any withdrawal of Israeli forces from the so-called “buffer zone” established by Israel in southern Lebanon.

The State Department official did not specify the size of the territory from which Israel had withdrawn or the exact location of the reported withdrawal.

Later, Reuters also quoted a senior Israeli official who denied reports that Israel had withdrawn from part of the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon are continuing, for the third consecutive day, discussions within the fifth round of negotiations aimed at consolidating the ceasefire, with talks taking place in Washington.

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Soldier Killed

On the ground, the Israeli military announced on Thursday the death of one of its soldiers during what it described as an “operational activity” in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the Israeli army said that a 32-year-old sergeant had “fallen during operational activity.” A spokesperson for Agence France-Presse later indicated that the soldier was killed when his vehicle overturned.

The Lebanese front has remained relatively calm since Saturday evening following the signing of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Nevertheless, Israel announced on Tuesday and Wednesday that it had targeted individuals suspected of belonging to Hezbollah.

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Lebanese authorities reported that four people were killed as a result of those strikes.

Overall, the Israeli military has announced the deaths of 37 soldiers and one civilian contractor since the beginning of the war in Lebanon. Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, estimate that approximately 4,200 people have been killed.

The latest conflict erupted after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the outset of the U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran on February 28. Israel subsequently responded with a large-scale aerial bombardment campaign and a ground offensive.

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