SOUTHERN LEBANON — Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a pilot program on June 29, 2026, for partial withdrawals of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon. The program focuses on the zone between the IDF's Yellow Line and the Litani River. These withdrawals are contingent on the Lebanese Armed Forces removing Hezbollah from the designated area.

Katz outlined three potential stages for negotiations concerning these withdrawals. The first stage involves this pilot program with limited withdrawals in deep southern Lebanon. A second stage would involve potential withdrawals from other parts of southern Lebanon, provided Hezbollah is kept out of the initial areas taken over by the Lebanese Armed Forces. The third stage would involve the IDF maintaining a limited security zone within southern Lebanon.

Katz stated that Israel will only partially, not fully, withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza. The minister indicated it is premature to discuss the specific location of the final security zone. He also noted that there are 2,500 Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon who need to be cleared out. An estimated 1,200 of these members are positioned below the Litani River in specific locations away from the border, while 1,300 are north of the Litani River but south of the Zahrani River.

During his announcement, Katz detailed that approximately 100% of Lebanese villages near the border in central and western areas have been destroyed due to the discovery of Hezbollah weapons. In eastern areas, around 73% of border villages were destroyed based on the volume of Hezbollah weapons found. These destruction statistics pertained to approximately 24 villages. Katz also stated that of the 1.3 million Lebanese who evacuated southern Lebanon, Beirut, and other areas, an estimated 200,000 may not have villages to return to. Israel's positions on security issues with Lebanon are partly dictated by the aspiration to achieve full disarmament of Hezbollah. Israel has reduced expectations for the full disarmament of Hezbollah in the foreseeable future.

The minister met with US Central Command Chief Adm. Brad Cooper on Friday, June 27, 2026. In early 2025, Israel had sought to retain more Lebanese territory for an extended period but withdrew to five outposts following pressure from the United States.