Military leaks indicate possible Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

Published April 16th, 2026 - 09:25 GMT
Israeli soldiers
Israeli soldiers walk next to a self-propelled Howitzer artillery gun positioned in the upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with southern Lebanon on March 29, 2026. Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP

ALBAWABA - The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) quoted "informed sources" as saying that Israel might consider a phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon if progress is made in the ongoing talks.

According to the same sources, this proposal remains contingent on developments in the negotiations and guarantees of de-escalation on the northern border, with no final decision yet issued.

This development comes amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation on the Lebanese front, with anticipation surrounding the outcome of the talks and whether they will lead to new understandings on the ground.

Israeli soldiers

Israeli soldiers seen in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the Lebanon border on March 22, 2026. Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP

The New York Times quoted a Lebanese official as saying that "Washington informed the Lebanese government that Israel is considering a short-term truce," at Israel's request to President Trump.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to exploit the recent talks in Washington with Lebanon to buy time in the war against Hezbollah.

These talks are the first of their kind in four decades in which Israel and Lebanon have held open negotiations to reach a diplomatic agreement.