Americans have revived hopes for negotiations between Israel and Lebanon and the possibility of a ceasefire, as the US administration praised progress made in the talks and said the two sides are close to signing a letter of intent. Israeli and Lebanese officials, however, denied a statement by a US official that Israel had withdrawn some of its forces from southern Lebanon.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the progress made in negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which are currently being conducted through American mediation in Washington.
Rubio told reporters: "I think we are very close to achieving our hopes of obtaining a letter of intent between the two countries," noting that it would take some time and require a great deal of work.
He added: "I think we are going to get a very positive letter of intent — whether today or in the coming days, we are working hard on it. We hope today will be a day that builds on some of the progress we have made." On a related front, senior Israeli and Lebanese officials denied any Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, after a US official said Israel had pulled some of its forces from the area as a goodwill gesture toward the Lebanese government.
A senior Israeli defence official said Israel's policy is clear and that the army will not withdraw from what is known as the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
In response to a question about the US official's remarks, a senior Lebanese military official said that developments on the ground over the past few days show the opposite.
The official clarified that Israeli forces are tightening their grip on the buffer zone to prevent any party from approaching it, including the Lebanese army.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with France's ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, to discuss the course of the Washington negotiations.
Aoun received the French ambassador at the Baabda Palace to review the general situation in light of recent developments, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency.
The meeting addressed follow-up on what President Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron had agreed regarding mobilising contacts to hold an international conference in support of the Lebanese army and internal security forces — a conference that had been postponed as a result of the Israeli war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The forces will remain in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary. I have instructed the Israeli army that it has freedom of action in Lebanon."
Israel also said it has not set a timetable for withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon, Gaza, or Syria. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said: "We must remain in the security zone in Lebanon, in Syria, and in Gaza — and not for a limited period. We oppose the withdrawal of Israeli army forces from the security zone in Lebanon, despite all the pressures that exist and those that may come later."
On the ground, in an Israeli violation of the ceasefire, 3 people were killed on Thursday in an Israeli strike targeting a vehicle in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency. The agency reported 3 fatalities and one person wounded after a drone targeted a car on the road between Zoutar and Mayfadoun, bringing the total number killed by Israeli fire since last Tuesday to 7.
The Israeli army also announced yesterday the death of one of its soldiers during an operational activity in southern Lebanon. It said a 32-year-old sergeant was killed during an operational activity. A spokesperson said the soldier was killed when his vehicle overturned, describing the incident as an accident.