A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon or offer concessions, contradicting an LBCI report that the US had notified Lebanon of an Israeli pullback. The official said forces remain deployed along the Blue Line in positions optimized to protect personnel, a stance backed by both military leadership and the political echelon. Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold negotiations in Washington on Tuesday.
Israel Denies Troop Pullback From Southern Lebanon Ahead Of Washington Talks
Israeli soldiers are seen inside southern Lebanon as seen from the Israeli side of the border, June 7, 2026. (photo credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)
A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw from southern Lebanon or make concessions, directly contradicting an earlier Lebanese media report.
Official Statement
"There are no concessions and no withdrawals. The IDF is deployed along the Blue Line in positions deemed optimal for the protection of our forces. This is the directive issued by the military leadership, with the backing of the political echelon."
The official’s comments respond to a report from Lebanese broadcaster LBCI that claimed the United States had informed Beirut that Israel planned a limited pullback as a "goodwill gesture" ahead of Israel-Lebanon negotiations. Those talks are scheduled to take place in Washington on Tuesday.
The Blue Line — the UN-demarcated boundary between Israel and Lebanon — remains the area where Israeli forces say they are positioned to protect troops. Military and political leaders, according to the official, support the current deployment and rules of engagement.
Note: This is a developing story and updates may follow as talks approach.
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