world
Israel Orders Military to Prepare Extended Stay in Southern Lebanon Security Zone
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the prime minister and he directed the military to ready itself for a prolonged presence. The move follows a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon that does not mandate immediate withdrawal.
AJ
middleeasteye.netAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the prime minister and he had instructed the military to prepare for an extended stay in the security zone in southern Lebanon. Katz said redeployment would not occur until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon. -brokered framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
The agreement outlines a sequenced process under which the Lebanese army would restore sovereign authority over Lebanese territory pending verified disarmament of non-state armed groups. It does not require immediate Israeli withdrawal but calls for progressive redeployment in two pilot zones where Lebanese forces would assume security responsibility.
An Israeli air strike was reported on Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
Israeli forces also conducted raids in several towns in the occupied West Bank. The Lebanese army called on citizens to act responsibly amid planned demonstrations and stated it would not allow breaches of security.
