Netanyahu visits occupied southern Lebanon, vows not to leave yet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the occupied southern Lebanon on Tuesday, reaffirming that the country would not leave the region as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah posed a threat.

It was the first visit by Netanyahu to occupied Lebanese territory since the Israeli and Lebanese governments reached a security agreement last Friday, mediated by the United States, under which Israel will hand over two areas to Lebanon's army.

"Our insistence is ​that we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat is removed," Netanyahu told troops, according to a statement ​released by his office, referring to Hezbollah.

"And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening ⁠us, we will remain here as well," he said.

Netanyahu, who last publicly visited occupied Lebanese territory in April, was accompanied by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and other military officials.

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Israel to withdraw from two areas

Last week, Netanyahu announced that the country will withdraw from two areas in southern Lebanon and hand them over to the Lebanese military under a newly signed deal.

After nearly four days of negotiations in Washington, Israel, Lebanon and the US reached a trilateral deal that will pave the way for future agreements toward a broader peace deal, an Israeli official told CNN.

Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from two areas in southern Lebanon, including one north of the Litani River and another south of it. The Israeli-controlled territory in southern Lebanon includes areas located south of the Litani River. In a pre-recorded video statement released on Friday evening, Netanyahu said the IDF would leave positions it “does not need” in Lebanon.

Following Israel’s withdrawal, the Lebanese Army will move into these areas as part of a pilot program, also part of the latest trilateral deal. Netanyahu has called the deal a major win for Israel, as it still gets to hold much of Lebanon’s territory.

With inputs from agencies