President Trump’s declaration yesterday that Israel wanted to withdraw from Lebanon and his prediction that this would happen soon was echoed today by Ambassador Michel Issa, who said the framework was being implemented and Israel would start once a timetable was agreed to.
They’re seemingly the only ones who think so, however, as not only has Israel repeatedly insisted they intend to stay in Lebanon (among other occupied places), but Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz felt the need to issue a statement in the wake of Trump’s comments to disavow them, insisting Israel doesn’t need anyone else’s permission to occupy Lebanon.
“We didn’t ask for anyone’s approval to enter Lebanon and we don’t need approval to stay in Lebanon. It is our right and duty to defend the residents of the Galilee and Israeli citizens,” Katz’s statement read, once again reiterating that Israel’s posture within Lebanon had not changed, which per the statements they keep issuing roughly every 36 hours, are an intention to remain.
Damage around the residential areas of Mashghara, Lebanon | Image from X
Underscoring that, Israel continued with demolition operations in southern Lebanon, destroying substantial portions of the villages of Houla and Khiam in explosions, while shelling other parts of the Lebanese south. They further flew drones low over the Lebanese capital of Beirut.
Israel has an explicit policy of trying to wipe out Shi’ite towns and villages near the Blue Line border, and recent satellite imagery points to them having effectively destroyed several such municipalities, with the destruction continuing apace.
While a US military delegation is apparently headed to Lebanon to try to prepare coordination for the “trilateral” agreement that was reached last week. In practice, however, neither that deal nor the others require Israel to actually withdraw from Lebanon, and they seem to be sticking to those terms.
The UNIFIL continues to monitor the not-ceasefire agreements, and has reported recent increases in their own operational activities in southern Lebanon as villagers try to return to their homes after months being displaced. Israeli DM Katz has repeatedly said some people will simply not be allowed to return.
