Foreign Minister of Lebanon Reaffirms Goal of Full Israeli Withdrawal from All Lebanese Territory

Lebanon's Foreign Minister has reaffirmed that the country's central objective remains the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory, framing the US-brokered framework agreement as the only viable path to achieving a complete pull-out and restoring Lebanese sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has consistently defended the framework agreement, signed in Washington on June 26, arguing that it represents the surest route to ending the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials have stressed that Beirut will not relinquish any of its territory, insisting that the ultimate goal is not a partial or symbolic pull-back but a full Israeli withdrawal from every part of the country.

Rome Talks Yield a Withdrawal Mechanism

The renewed emphasis on a complete withdrawal came as Lebanese and Israeli delegations concluded a fresh round of US-brokered talks in Rome on Wednesday, the sixth round of direct negotiations and the first since the framework agreement was signed. According to Italian media and official statements, the two sides agreed on a structure and guidelines for withdrawing Israeli forces from two initial "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, with control of those areas to be transferred to the Lebanese army, before moving into a technical phase aimed at a comprehensive agreement.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the outcome "the best possible formula" available to Lebanon, saying it had begun to produce results and that Washington was paying closer attention to Beirut's position. "Our objectives are clear, and we will not compromise Lebanon's rights," Aoun said, according to the Lebanese presidency. Ahead of the talks, the Lebanese delegation had been instructed to demand the immediate start of Israel's withdrawal from the two pilot zones before any further discussion.

Israel Signals a Conditional, Open-Ended Presence

Israel has struck a more cautious tone. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country was "ready to move forward" on implementing the two pilot zones, but Israeli officials have maintained that a full withdrawal remains conditional on the Lebanese army's ability to establish lasting control over vacated territory and on progress toward the disarmament of Hezbollah. Israel's defence minister separately told US officials that Israeli troops would remain indefinitely in the broader "security zones" it has established across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza — underscoring the gap between the two sides' positions.

By some estimates, Israel currently controls roughly 6 percent of Lebanese territory, following a military operation it launched in mid-March in response to what it said were Hezbollah attacks. The framework agreement provides for a phased withdrawal tied to the deployment of Lebanese troops and the disarmament of armed groups south of the Litani River.

A Deal Under Domestic Strain

The framework has faced sharp criticism inside Lebanon, with Hezbollah rejecting it outright and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warning against its terms, even as President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam defend it as the only means of restoring state sovereignty and securing an Israeli withdrawal. Deadly Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon have also continued during the negotiations, adding urgency to Beirut's push for a full pull-out.

What Comes Next

With the pilot-zone mechanism now agreed and talks moving into a technical phase, attention turns to whether Israel begins an actual withdrawal on the ground, whether the Lebanese army can deploy and assert control as envisioned, and whether President Aoun's expected visit to Washington later this month can accelerate the process toward the full withdrawal Beirut says remains its unwavering goal.