Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his commitment to extending state authority through the Lebanese Armed Forces up to the southern border with Israel, a region where the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group maintains a strong presence. The pledge was made during a meeting with US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper in Beirut, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency.
Lebanese State's Determination
The presidency said the pair discussed preparations for implementing a framework agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. President Aoun thanked Admiral Cooper for the interest shown by US President Donald Trump toward Lebanon in achieving security and stability there, stressing the Lebanese state's determination to extend its authority through its armed forces all the way to the international southern border.
Israeli leaders have indicated they do not plan to withdraw from southern Lebanon before Hezbollah is dismantled. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told reporters that Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but the IDF will not withdraw a millimeter until Hezbollah is disarmed.
Katz: No Withdrawal Until Hezbollah Disarmed
Speaking to reporters, Katz said the Israeli military is unlikely to withdraw from additional areas of southern Lebanon beyond the two agreed-upon locations from which it will pull out as part of a pilot program that will see the Lebanese army take over. People should not hold their breath wondering where the next place will be from which Israel will withdraw in Lebanon, because it will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed. We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah is disarmed, we will not withdraw a millimeter, Katz said.
He said this is accepted by the US and is anchored in the military annex to the framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon last week. Katz also noted that when he met US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, they agreed that the IDF will not withdraw from the three security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
Lebanese Army Refused to Clear Hezbollah Tunnel Area
Katz said he does not believe the Lebanese army will suddenly become lions charging at Hezbollah, and therefore the IDF's presence in Lebanon will be long-term. The defense minister confirmed that Israel recently tried to get the Lebanese army to enter the Ali Taher Ridge area, under which Hezbollah has a major tunnel system, and clear it of terror operatives. However, the Lebanese army refused to do it, Katz said. The IDF remains stationed in the area, but it has not entered the underground passages where some 30 Hezbollah operatives are believed to be holed up.
Destruction of Lebanese Border Villages
On the destruction of Lebanese border villages, Katz said it was clear that the Shiite villages along the line of contact had to disappear to protect Israel's border from Hezbollah. According to the defense minister, in the western and central sectors of southern Lebanon, there is almost 100 percent destruction in the villages along the line of contact, while in the eastern sector, 73% of the villages are destroyed. He said that some 600,000 Shiites from the villages in southern Lebanon have fled, and another 700,000 have been displaced from Hezbollah's Dahiyeh stronghold in Beirut.
Katz Claims US Pressure Prevented Hezbollah Collapse
In his briefing, Katz claimed that had it not been for American pressure on Israel, the IDF would have caused Hezbollah to collapse in Lebanon. He said the IDF had planned a massive aerial campaign which, he claims, would have dismantled Hezbollah, and that the terror group was begging the Iranians to save it. According to Katz, when US President Donald Trump linked Iran and Lebanon, Israel had to stop bringing down buildings in Beirut, but could carry out surgical strikes on Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital. I'm sorry about that linkage, but it was an American interest. They very, very much wanted to advance the possibility of negotiations with Iran, he said, adding that when you enter into a partnership, it has advantages, but it also comes with certain constraints.
If there had not been a linkage between the Lebanon and Iran arenas, Hezbollah would have collapsed, he claimed. Katz said he was not present for one call between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the signing of the MOU between the US and Iran. I was not on the fifth call, and the president applied pressure that ultimately created the linkage between the arenas, he said. That is why we moved to plan B, the defense minister said, referring to the IDF's operations north of the Litani River and the expansion of its security zone in southern Lebanon in the past month, which he says was carried out with US approval.
More Tunnels to Destroy, Tensions with Iran
Katz also said the IDF still has more tunnels to destroy and blow up, including a major underground Hezbollah system beneath the Beaufort Ridge, which he says will be destroyed with 500 tons of explosives. Regarding tensions with Iran, Katz said that if Iran attacks Israel with ballistic missiles in response to actions in Lebanon, the IDF will respond and is preparing to operate independently. It could happen even within two days, he said. We have targets to strike in Iran, and the IDF is prepared and on alert, but we will not interfere with the US president's course of action vis-à-vis the Iranians.
