Israel Maintains Southern Lebanon Deployment Amid Iran Deal Negotiations as Rubio Seeks Regional Support]
Tel Aviv/Dubai – Israel’s defense minister stated on Wednesday that Israeli troops will maintain their presence in southern Lebanon, creating a barrier to Iran-US peace talks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a Middle Eastern tour aimed at securing regional backing for a proposed ceasefire agreement.
The United States and Iran reached an initial ceasefire framework last week, ending a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and strained global energy markets. The agreement followed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global oil trade and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas supplies.
Discrepancies have emerged regarding key aspects of the deal, prompting criticism of US President Donald Trump both domestically and internationally. Issues including Iranian financial incentives, Strait of Hormuz management, and Israel’s ongoing operations in Lebanon have underscored the agreement’s fragility.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have repeatedly affirmed their refusal to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, where they claim to have established a security buffer to protect northern Israeli communities.
“The IDF is prepared… and we are not retreating. We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing, and as of this moment—there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon,” Katz said during an interview at a Tel Aviv conference.
These remarks come as Lebanon and Israel engage in discussions about a US-backed proposal under review in Washington, which would see Israeli forces withdraw from certain areas of Lebanon and transfer control to the Lebanese army.
Israel has been conducting operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon since early March, following the militant group’s attacks in support of Iran. Tehran has made a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon a central condition of any US-Iran peace agreement.
“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,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in Baku during a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s parliamentary union.
An Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in southern Lebanon resulted in multiple casualties Wednesday, according to Lebanese security and medical sources.
The Israeli military confirmed conducting an airstrike against two armed Hezbollah fighters near the zone under Israeli control in southern Lebanon, though it remained unclear if the incidents were connected.
Rubio met with senior officials including UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his regional visit, which also included stops in Kuwait and Bahrain—both nations hosting strategic US military installations and having sustained direct Iranian missile attacks.
Trump claimed the agreement permits use of unfrozen Iranian funds for food and medical supplies procurement from the US, a claim Tehran disputed. Reports also conflict regarding nuclear program provisions, with Trump asserting Iran agreed to indefinite inspections while Iranian officials denied these terms were finalized.
Following the ceasefire, shipping has resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to declining oil prices. However, questions remain about the waterway’s long-term management among Iran, Oman, and other Gulf states. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani recently visited Muscat to discuss initiating negotiations over the strait’s administration.
While Gulf states seek to eliminate transit fees, Iran could propose environmental, navigation, and security charges. Trump asserted on social media that Iran assured the US there would be “no tolls, no insurance costs, [and] no other charges of any kind” on vessels transiting the strait.
