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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the death of a reserve soldier in an “operational accident” in southern Lebanon, amid reports of a partial withdrawal from the region and direct threats from Iran over the issue.
The slain reserve soldier was identified as Master Sgt. Basil Sweid, a truck driver in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion.
In a statement, the IDF said that Sweid was killed when his refueling truck overturned in the Rab al-Thalathine area the prior night. As a result of the truck overturning, Sweid was killed and a combat soldier was moderately injured, according to the military.
Around the same time the death of the reserve soldier was announced, Reuters reported citing a United State Department official that Israel has withdrawn from some areas in the southern Lebanese.
The State Department official didn’t say how much territory the IDF withdrew from or where specifically the pullback occurred.
“Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone. This is a significant demonstration of good faith toward Lebanon’s legitimate government,” the official said.
“The [Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)] should now move in and verifiably clear out terrorist weapons and infrastructure. This model will be repeated across South Lebanon, enabling the safe return of displaced families, reconstruction of the south, and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty,” they added.
A senior Lebanese security official, however, told the news agency that they are unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli troops from its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon.
Israeli and Lebanese officials have been meeting this week in Washington to discuss, among other things, a proposal for the IDF to withdraw from “pilot zones” and transfer control of them to the LAF in order to prevent Hezbollah from returning to the areas.
However, Israeli security and military officials told The Times of Israel that the current round of talks in Washington has been the least productive to date, with both Israeli and Lebanese officials voicing frustration over the US decision to make a ceasefire in Lebanon part of the memorandum of understanding it inked last week with Iran. The sources also denied to the news website that the IDF has withdrawn from any parts of southern Lebanon.
Amid these conflicting reports, the commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Esmail Qaani said that Israel must withdraw on its own from Lebanon’s entire territory or be “forced to flee in defeat.” The remarks highlighted Tehran’s commitment to the Lebanese issue, despite the reported objection from both Israel and Lebanon.
For now, Israel appears to be determined to maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon. While the situation is currently calm in the region, Hezbollah will not likely tolerate a lengthy Israeli military presence there. In fact, the group has already warned the IDF over ceasefire violations.
Israel is likely attempting to buy time, waiting for pressure from the U.S. to ease, and betting that Iran will not take action over this issue.
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