Israeli troops will continue to occupy large swaths of territory in southern Lebanon, the Israeli Defense Forces announced Thursday, drawing a firm rebuke from Tehran and complicating the upcoming negotiations between Iran and the U.S.
The Israeli military released a map of the “security zone” it created in southern Lebanon and said that its forces would remain there to deter further attacks on Israeli citizens. The zone itself stretches from Israel’s northern border about six miles into Lebanese territory.
“IDF soldiers are stationed in the designated area of operation in southern Lebanon and will continue to remove threats and strengthen the defense of Israel’s northern residents,” the IDF wrote in a statement.
Israeli forces have occupied southern Lebanon for weeks, routinely issuing evacuation orders to civilians in towns and villages before destroying buildings the IDF says could have been used by Hezbollah.
Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have significantly decreased since the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. But fighting has not stopped completely and Israeli officials have made it clear that its war with Hezbollah is not finished.
Today’s statement from the IDF, and others like it from Israeli officials, could create significant problems for U.S. and Iranian diplomats ahead of the planned 60-day negotiating period outlined in the preliminary agreement.
The text of the agreement indicates that there will be a cessation of hostilities on all fronts of the war, including in Lebanon.
Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said Thursday that Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon would constitute an “annulment” of the preliminary agreement with the U.S.
He implied that no in-depth discussions with Washington would take place until all of the terms of the agreement were implemented.
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