Israel continues operations in southern Lebanon amid US‑Iran talks and Hezbollah resistance

Israel has repeatedly denied any withdrawal from the occupied area of southern Lebanon. Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, said forces will remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for an indefinite period, while the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) carried out air strikes and a costly ground offensive on the strategic Ali al‑Taher hill that ended in heavy Israeli losses, including destroyed Merkava tanks.

A United States‑Iran memorandum of understanding, signed in June, has been denounced by Hezbollah leader Naïm Kassem as a defeat for Israel and the United States, and the group has demanded a complete Israeli pull‑out from Lebanese territory. Israeli statements, however, maintain that withdrawal will only occur after Hezbollah is fully disarmed and the security zone is demilitarised. Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States, have entered a fifth round in Washington, now extended by a day, while parallel diplomatic talks on the Strait of Hormuz continue to raise regional tensions.

Amid the diplomatic pressure, Israel announced a partial withdrawal of some combat brigades from southern Lebanon, framing it as a rotation of forces pending Hezbollah's disarmament. The conflict has caused more than 4,200 Lebanese deaths and over 12,000 injuries since March, underscoring the humanitarian impact of the ongoing hostilities.