Israel and Lebanon discuss plan to transfer some southern territory to Lebanese army
Key takeaways
- By: FRANCE 24 A Lebanese soldier stands in front of a destroyed branch of the Lebanese Central Bank in the town of Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on June 22, 2026.
- The proposed "pilot" project is being discussed in the latest round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials, which got underway in Washington on Tuesday.
- Rejected by Hezbollah, this diplomatic track has been overshadowed as Tehran has made Lebanon a focal point of its negotiations with the US.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Israeli and Lebanese negotiators in Washington are discussing a US-backed pilot project under which Israeli troops would hand back control over some territory in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces, according to officials from the two countries.
By: FRANCE 24 A Lebanese soldier stands in front of a destroyed branch of the Lebanese Central Bank in the town of Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on June 22, 2026. © Mohammed Zaatari, AP Talks between Israel and Lebanon include discussion of a US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to hand over some of the territory they have invaded during the war with Hezbollah to the Lebanese military, according to Israeli and Lebanese officials.
The Israeli officials said the Lebanese troops involved would undergo US training and vetting to ensure they are not linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah, while Israel would maintain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border.