In a recent phone conversation, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Syria and Lebanon. This move, Trump suggested, could help reduce regional tensions. However, Netanyahu defended the military deployments, emphasizing Israel’s security needs and the importance of maintaining border security zones.
This discussion occurs amidst ongoing U.S.-facilitated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon regarding the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from designated “pilot zones” within southern Lebanon. Officials from both countries characterized the latest talks held in Rome as productive, with additional discussions planned to further advance the implementation of the withdrawal strategy.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that Israel is ready to proceed with the pilot zone agreement, although he stressed that addressing security concerns remains a primary focus. These negotiations form a part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and enhancing stability along Israel’s northern frontiers.