“We do not seek confrontation with Hezbollah, and we must seek to prevent armed confrontation with it. But we will not submit to blackmail or threats of civil war, and we will not retreat from restricting weapons to the state,” he added.
On Friday, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework intended to facilitate a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and reduce hostilities along the border.
The framework does not set a clear timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from the two disputed areas or from all Lebanese territory. It also links the process to the Lebanese army assuming full responsibility for security in areas vacated by Israeli forces and to the disarmament of all armed groups outside state control, foremost among them Hezbollah.
Israel has occupied parts of southern Lebanon for years, holding some areas for decades. It also seized additional territory during the 2023–2024 war and has advanced more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory during the current offensive.
Since March 2 2026, Israel’s offensive on Lebanon has killed more than 4,000 people, injured over 12,000, and displaced more than 1 million, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
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