U.S. Floats Netanyahu–Aoun Meeting as Path to IDF Exit From Lebanon

A direct meeting between Israel’s prime minister and Lebanon’s president could result in the IDF leaving southern Lebanon altogether, the American embassy at Beirut said. In a statement on X Thursday evening the embassy said that Lebanon stands at a “crossroads. Its people have a historic opportunity to reclaim their country and shape their future as a truly sovereign, independent nation.”“Direct engagement between Lebanon and Israel, two neighboring countries that should have never been at war, can mark the beginning of a national revival. The extended Cessation of Hostilities, achieved at the personal request of President Trump, has given Lebanon the space and the opportunity to put all of its legitimate demands on the table with the full attention of the United States Government,” the statement added. The Lebanese government has repeatedly said that the Israeli army has to withdraw from the 10 kilometer buffer zone in southern Lebanon called the “Forward Defense Line.”According to the American embassy, such a move could be triggered by a direct meeting between President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facilitated by President Trump. That would give Lebanon “the chance to secure concrete guarantees on full sovereignty, territorial integrity, secure borders, humanitarian and reconstruction support, and the complete restoration of Lebanese state authority over every inch of its territory — guaranteed by the United States.”No date has been set for a meeting between the two leaders although they spoke over the phone with Mr. Trump last month. “This is Lebanon’s moment to decide its own destiny, one which belongs to all its people. The United States is ready to stand with Lebanon as it seizes this opportunity with confidence and wisdom. The time for hesitation is over,” the embassy statement concluded. Another Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking the second IDF fatality in a week. The soldier was identified as Sergeant Liem Ben Hamo, 19, of the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israel “must complete the task to ensure the removal of the threat to the residents of the north and to the State of Israel.”“We will act and destroy all terrorist infrastructures in the security zone up to the yellow line, below and above ground, just as we did in Gaza, to remove threats from the residents of the Galilee and crush Hezbollah’s capabilities throughout Lebanon. We have guaranteed security to the residents of the north, and so we will,” he said. The IDF uncovered another Hezbollah tunnel in the Ras Biyada ara in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The tunnel was more 140 meters in length and more than 24 tons of explosives were used to dismantle it, the army said. “Inside the tunnel, living quarters, operational shafts, and numerous weapons were located. The tunnel had recently been used by Hezbollah terrorists to advance attack plans,” it added.

U.S. Floats Netanyahu–Aoun Meeting as Path to IDF Exit From Lebanon

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