Israel Does Not Withdraw for Free: A Condition That Puts South Lebanon Before a New Equation

# Israel’s Conditions for South Lebanon Withdrawal: Gradual Retreat Only, No US Pressure
As preparations underway to resume US-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel, Tel Aviv has laid out its conditions for any potential withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon. Israel has established a clear operational equation: *no withdrawal before testing the Lebanese mechanism*, and no retreat from any strategic point that Israel believes could directly threaten its northern towns.
According to a report by journalist Amir Bohbot on the Israeli website Walla, talks between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States, are expected to resume tomorrow, Tuesday. Estimates suggest the two sides will discuss a pilot model for a security arrangement on the ground.
## US Aligned with Israeli Security Concerns
Against the backdrop of these developments, the report cited security sources stating that the White House is not putting actual pressure on Israel to pull out of southern Lebanon. Instead, Washington is showing broad understanding of what Israel describes as a direct threat from Hezbollah to towns adjacent to the border fence.
Walla revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz draw a clear distinction between:
* *Direct Threat Zones:* Areas in southern Lebanon under the operational control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that allow direct fire toward Israeli towns (e.g., Beaufort Castle / Tell al-Shaqif).
* *Indirect Threat Zones:* Areas that do not allow direct fire toward Israel (e.g., Ali al-Taher Hill).
## A Phased, Conditional Withdrawal Strategy
The report indicates that Israel may signal to the Lebanese side, via US mediation, a willingness to withdraw from areas that lack direct-fire capabilities into Israel. However, this withdrawal—if it happens—will only occur *gradually and after the complete destruction of all military infrastructure*, both above and below ground. Only if the Lebanese mechanism proves effective will the IDF agree to pull back from those specific zones.
> *Key Quote:* “The Lebanese will need to prove to us and to the United States that they are capable of confronting Hezbollah and destroying military infrastructure that has been built over nearly 20 years,” a source familiar with the matter stated.
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Until that happens, Israeli security and military officials emphasize that the IDF has *no intention of withdrawing* from any area in southern Lebanon. In the coming period, the military will continue to locate and destroy hostile military infrastructure.
## The Situation in Kfar Tibnit
Israeli security officials also addressed the situation surrounding dozens of militants trapped in Kfar Tibnit in southern Lebanon, where an underground network houses dozens of fighters.
“There is no agreement on handing over the militants or on their surrender,” the officials stated, adding that the IDF’s objective is focused not just on the militants, but on completely destroying the tunnel system they are entrenched in.
Ultimately, Israel is tying any withdrawal from southern Lebanon to a strict series of field and security conditions. The real test now lies in whether the Lebanese mechanism can prove its capability to both Washington and Tel Aviv simultaneously.