Israel Expected to Withdraw from Southern Lebanon, Says US President Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara that he believes Israel will soon pull its forces out of southern Lebanon, citing a recently‑signed security accord between Israel and Lebanon that was mediated by the United States. Trump said the agreement would return control of two border zones to the Lebanese army and expressed confidence that Israel wants the withdrawal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously cautioned that Israeli troops will remain until Hezbollah’s threat is neutralised, highlighting a divergence between Washington’s optimism and Tel Aviv’s security concerns. The comments were made alongside Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whom Trump praised for stabilising Syria after the ouster of Bashar al‑Assad.

The statements underscore ongoing diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate tensions along the Israel‑Lebanon frontier, where Hezbollah, backed by Iran, continues to pose a security challenge.