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Lebanon Proposes Talks to Halt Israeli Strikes and Secure Withdrawal from Occupied Border Hills

President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon is willing to negotiate an agreement to end Israeli strikes and secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from five border hills occupied since last year’s Israel‑Hezbollah war. He said Lebanese troops stand ready to deploy to positions vacated by Israel and that talks could be direct or sponsored by the U.S., U.N. or international community. Aoun proposed that the ceasefire monitoring committee, including UNIFIL, verify that only Lebanese state forces remain along the border. The offer comes as Israeli strikes have recently intensified, including an airstrike that killed 13 people in Ein el‑Hilweh.

04:21 AM, 11/22/2025Conflict
Lebanon Proposes Talks to Halt Israeli Strikes and Secure Withdrawal from Occupied Border Hills

Beirut — Lebanon says it is prepared to enter negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement to stop Israeli strikes and secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from five border hills they have occupied since last year’s Israel‑Hezbollah war, President Joseph Aoun said Friday.

Speaking on television to mark Independence Day, Aoun said Lebanese armed forces are ready to deploy to any positions vacated by Israeli troops. He framed the proposal as a path to restore Lebanese state authority along the border and reduce the risk of further escalation.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel would accept the proposal. The offer comes as Israel has intensified strikes inside Lebanon; on Tuesday, an airstrike on the Ein el‑Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon killed 13 people, the deadliest attack since the ceasefire took effect a year ago.

Aoun said talks with Israel could be held directly or be sponsored by third parties such as the United States, the United Nations or the wider international community. He suggested that the ceasefire monitoring committee — composed of the U.S., France, Israel, Lebanon and the U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL — could verify that only Lebanese state forces are deployed along the border following any withdrawal.

Israel has warned that Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its military capabilities after being weakened in last year’s conflict. The most recent Israel‑Hezbollah war began on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel and after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel responded with a widespread two‑month bombardment of Lebanon and a subsequent ground incursion.

That war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion in damage, according to World Bank estimates. In Israel, 127 people were killed, including 80 soldiers. Aoun’s proposal aims to create a monitored, verifiable reduction in hostilities and a return of sovereign Lebanese forces to contested border positions.

What happens next

The immediate prospects for talks depend on Israel’s response and the willingness of international actors to sponsor negotiations and monitoring. If accepted, the proposal would require clear verification mechanisms and confidence‑building measures to prevent renewed clashes along the frontier.

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Lebanon Proposes Talks to Halt Israeli Strikes and Secure Withdrawal from Occupied Border Hills - CRBC News