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Lebanon at 'critical phase' as PM says Israel blocking withdrawal talks

Iran Press TV

Friday, 21 November 2025 11:23 AM

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says Israel is refusing to enter talks to end its occupation of Lebanese territory, despite last November's ceasefire agreement and the regime's public rhetoric.

Salam said Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has offered to start talks with Israel to discuss its withdrawal from the five border outposts.

"I repeat the same offer of negotiating with Israel," Salam said in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday, noting that Israel declined to respond to the Lebanese offer.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27, 2024. Under the deal, Tel Aviv was required to withdraw fully from the Lebanese territory—but has kept forces stationed at five sites, in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the terms of the agreement.

"That's a puzzle for me. They ask for negotiations, and when we show readiness, they don't agree to the rendez-vous," the premier said.

"That's something I'll be bringing up with the Americans," he added.

His remarks came as the premier's government approved a US proposal to disarm the Hezbollah resistance movement that has for decades defended the country from external aggression, especially from the Israeli enemy.

Hezbollah has condemned the government's decision to disarm it as a "grave sin," warning that such a move would weaken the country against Israeli aggression. The popular resistance group declared it would ignore the decision entirely, treating it "as if it did not exist."

Referring to the Israeli occupation of the five sites and the regime's ongoing deadly attacks, Lebanese armed forces commander General Rodolphe Haykal said on Friday, "Today, our nation is witnessing a critical phase, one of the most difficult in its history."

He added that the Israeli violations "prevent the army's full deployment, and cause widespread destruction to property and infrastructure."

Haykal was scheduled to visit Washington this week, but the visit was canceled over his recent statement condemning Israel for its incessant aggression on the Arab country's south.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported Thursday that Israeli forces committed more than 7,500 airspace breaches and nearly 2,500 ground violations north of the Blue Line, the UN‑designated boundary separating Lebanon and the occupied territories.

UNIFIL said over 360 weapons abandoned by Israeli troops were handed to the Lebanese army, adding that all violations have been formally conveyed to the UN Security Council.

Lebanese authorities have warned that the regime's violations of the ceasefire threaten national stability.