Hochstein promises IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon as Lebanese army deploys to region

U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein reportedly promised the Lebanese government that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would fully withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon by the end of January, according to reports in Lebanese and Israeli media on Saturday.

Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported that, during meetings with newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hochstein claimed to have received “a detailed timeline for the withdrawal” of the IDF forces from discussions with Israeli leaders. 

Hochstein visited Beirut last week, where he assured the Lebanese leaders that Israel would withdraw its forces according to the deadline set in the Nov. 14 ceasefire agreement. 

Hochstein reportedly told the Lebanese leaders that “January 26 will be the final date for Israeli forces in Lebanon.” 

Israeli leaders had previously expressed uncertainty about the Lebanese army’s readiness to deploy to all the areas the IDF had occupied during its ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as well as the Lebanese military’s ability to confront attempts by the terror group to return to areas south of the Litani River. 

Several Israeli leaders have called for a continued IDF presence there until the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) demonstrates the ability to enforce the terms of the ceasefire. U.S. officials under the Biden administration have opposed such a plan.

According to the Al Akhbar report, Hochstein requested that the LAF increase its deployment to the areas being vacated by the IDF and insisted that Hezbollah must turn over all weapons south of the Litani River to the Lebanese army. 

Hochstein reiterated the U.S. demand for the Lebanese military to enhance its capabilities and raise its alert levels to effectively counter Hezbollah's efforts to re-establish a presence in southern Lebanon.

The IDF has launched repeated strikes against Hezbollah units violating the ceasefire by attempting to retrieve weapons south of the Litani or attempting to smuggle weapons back into areas the terror group abandoned following the Israeli ground incursion last October. 

On Saturday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck a known Hezbollah military compound in southern Lebanon after several terrorists were seen exiting the compound in violation of the ceasefire terms. 

The IDF also struck three suspects in southern Lebanon attempting to infiltrate Israeli territory near Mt. Dov. 

After reports from Lebanese media about an increased deployment of the country’s military to communities in southern Lebanon, Avigdor Liberman, head of the right-wing political party Yisrael Beytenu, took to social media and wrote: “An IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon by January 26th would be a betrayal of the northern residents and a blatant lack of responsibility.”

“It is clear to everyone that the Lebanese army will not collect weapons from Hezbollah, and Hezbollah will not give up even a single bullet,” he continued. “We must create a buffer zone inside Lebanon to maintain the security of the residents of the north.”