Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon Deal as Israeli Troops Stay Put, One Killed in Strike

Lebanon’s US-backed agreement with Israel has sparked immediate backlash. Hezbollah and its political allies announced they will not follow the deal, citing continued Israeli military presence on Lebanese territory [184812]. The agreement, brokered by the United States, aimed to reduce tensions along the border. However, Israeli troops have not withdrawn from occupied areas, undermining the pact’s credibility [184812].

Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militant group and political party in Lebanon, called the deal a violation of national sovereignty [184812]. Its rejection raises the risk of renewed violence in the region [184812].

On Friday, state media reported that Israeli strikes killed at least one person in southern Lebanon [184796]. The attack came just one day after Lebanon and Israel signed the framework agreement [184796]. Hezbollah has condemned the new deal, raising immediate doubts about its stability [184796].

Israel’s military chief has approved keeping troops active in southern Lebanon, just two days after signing the framework agreement with Beirut to end hostilities [184597]. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), approved “plans for continued operations” during a visit to the Northern Command on Sunday, according to a military statement [184597]. He described the trilateral deal between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, signed on Friday, as “historic and important” [184597].

“We will honor the agreement and work to ensure its success,” Zamir said. “The test now is the actions of both sides, and the coming period will shape the future” [184597].

The agreement calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon [184597]. A key point, detailed in a public U.S. State Department document, mentions a “Security Annex” that would see the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) gradually take control of two “pilot zones” [184597]. Both zones are south of the city of Nabatieh and are meant to lead to a phased IDF pullback [184597].

However, violence continues. Early Sunday, a Hezbollah fighter killed a 21-year-old Israeli soldier in the Lebanese village of Deir Siryan [184597]. Another soldier was lightly wounded and evacuated to a hospital [184597]. On Saturday, Israel bombed Nabatieh, a major city close to Israeli troop positions [184597]. The IDF confirmed on Sunday morning that the strike killed an unspecified number of Hezbollah fighters [184597].

One of the two pilot zones is near Deir Siryan, an area Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday the Israeli army “no longer needs to control” [184597]. The other zone exceeds the perimeter Israel had previously confirmed it held [184597].

Analysts say the standoff highlights deep mistrust between the two sides. For now, the agreement’s future remains uncertain as both parties dig in [184812].