Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has stated that Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, further complicating Iran peace talks as fighting in Lebanon continues to hinder a permanent ceasefire. Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, Katz said there was no pressure from the US administration for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to retreat from southern Lebanon.
Katz: No American Demand for Withdrawal
“The IDF is prepared … and we are not retreating. We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing, and as of this moment – and this is a political achievement – there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon,” Katz said. His comments echoed those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US and Iran signed an accord last week extending a fragile ceasefire and setting the stage for 60 days of talks aimed at a permanent peace. However, the first hiccups emerged after Israel continued its campaign in southern Lebanon, leading Iran to threaten the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
US-Iran Deal Faces Challenges Over Lebanon
Donald Trump put a positive spin on the talks, saying Iran was “being very nice” and “agreeing to everything that I want.” However, interpretations of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran have significantly differed, particularly over Lebanon. Iran insists that Israel must stop its war there and withdraw its troops from the south, where Israel has occupied large areas in what it calls a “security zone.”
In the latest violence, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle near Kfar Rumman, killing two people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese state media. Hezbollah accused Israel of another ceasefire violation. The Israeli military said it targeted two Hezbollah fighters near Nabatieh and later a vehicle “carrying suspects,” stating it would continue operating to “remove immediate threats.”
US-Mediated Talks and Iranian Linkage
Israel and the Lebanese government are engaged in US-mediated talks to arrange an Israeli withdrawal. Israel seeks a phased approach, handing territory to the Lebanese army to keep the area free of Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah is not involved, raising questions about the talks' effectiveness. Iran, not part of those talks, has linked a ceasefire with Iran to an end to fighting in Lebanon. “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran and, further, an end to the war in Lebanon is as important as an end to the war in Iran,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Wednesday.
Trump’s Remarks and NATO Tensions
During remarks in the Oval Office, Trump suggested the US would deny involvement in a Tomahawk missile attack that struck a girls’ elementary school, killing more than 150 people. “I have to wait for it to be completed. I don’t know they’re ever gonna solve that problem. You could ask Pete. Maybe it wasn’t our missile,” he said. The US is the only party with Tomahawk missiles. Trump also indicated willingness to share F-35 fighter jet technology with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan ahead of a NATO summit, despite jittery European leaders trying to keep Trump committed to the alliance. “I’m going to probably do something that’s gonna make him very happy,” Trump said. He again suggested NATO had “let down” the US, saying, “We demolished [Iran] in literally the first week but it would have been nice if they would have said: ‘We’d like to help.’”
Conflict Toll and Ceasefire Violations
Fighting started in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on 2 March in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering an Israeli invasion. Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,200 people in Lebanon since then, while Hezbollah attacks have killed at least 36 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and three Israeli civilians. A US-mediated ceasefire on Saturday has stopped most fighting, but Israeli drones struck a car outside Nabatieh on Wednesday, killing two, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Rubio’s Gulf Tour to Reassure Allies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on day two of a three-day tour of the Arab Gulf, his first high-profile visit after the MOU signing. He aimed to allay concerns that the Iran deal was too conciliatory. Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is also slated to visit Kuwait and Bahrain. All three countries were hit by Iranian strikes during the four-month war, which Iran said were retaliatory for hosting US bases used to attack Iran.
Gulf countries, close US allies, fear the proposed $300bn fund to Iran and waiving of sanctions would allow Iran to rebuild its military and threaten them again. Rubio emphasized US commitment to UAE security and discussed safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which was mostly shut by Iran during the war, disrupting shipping and sending energy prices soaring. Asked if he would address allies’ concerns, Rubio said, “We want to hear from our partners. We want to make sure that their views are taken into account, and we understand their security concerns, their regional economic concerns as well.”
Disagreements Over Nuclear Inspections and Hormuz Tolls
Disagreements emerged over inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites. Trump said Iran agreed to allow inspections into “infinity,” but Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said no meeting had been held with the IAEA chief and there were no plans for inspections until a final agreement. Iran is also pushing for transit fees for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a diplomat told Reuters. Trump said Iran had told the US there would be no tolls. The US has sought to reassure Gulf countries that the deal would not provide Iran a windfall or allow it to control the strait.
