⚠️ CENTCOM ADVANCES LEBANON FRAMEWORK AS ISRAEL AFFIRMS SECURITY ZONES, U.S. WEIGHS TROOP DEPLOYMENT, AND IDF ELIMINATES HAMAS TERRORIST
🔸 CENTCOM COMMANDER HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL TALKS IN ISRAEL AND LEBANON: During an ongoing trip to the Middle East, CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper met senior civilian and military leaders in both Israel and Lebanon to discuss implementation of the historic Washington framework agreement signed in Washington, D.C., last Friday.
In Lebanon, Cooper met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal. In Israel, he also visited deployed U.S. troops and recognized service members for outstanding mission contributions. CENTCOM noted that more than 50,000 American service members remain deployed across the region, "remaining vigilant and ready."
🇮🇱 ISRAEL: NO FURTHER WITHDRAWALS UNTIL HEZBOLLAH IS DISARMED: Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel and the CENTCOM commander agreed that Israel will not withdraw from its security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
"There will be no further withdrawals beyond the two pilot areas in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed," Katz stated.
❗️ REPORT: U.S. CONSIDERING GROUND TROOP DEPLOYMENT TO LEBANON: According to The Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing plans to deploy American ground forces to Lebanon.
Under the reported proposal, U.S. troops would monitor both the IDF and the Lebanese Armed Forces, with personnel stationed in both Israel and Lebanon to support implementation of the latest U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which calls for Hezbollah's disarmament.
🇱🇧 LEBANESE PRESIDENT BACKS WASHINGTON FRAMEWORK: President Joseph Aoun said the Washington "framework formula" sovereignly "achieves the logic of the state" and "preserves Lebanon's rights judicially" and on the ground, without surrendering after failed war experiences.
Aoun praised Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's efforts to "ward off sedition," said there is complete agreement that tampering with the Lebanese Army is prohibited, rejected rumors of plans to dismiss the army commander or security chiefs, and said their leadership remains essential for maintaining internal security and extending state sovereignty.
He also said residents of southern Lebanon from all sects have the right to security free from recurring cycles of killing, destruction, and displacement.
🛡️ CENTCOM HOSTS FIRST U.S.-LED REGIONAL DEFENSE DIALOGUE INCLUDING SYRIA AND LEBANON: CENTCOM announced it led a regional security dialogue hosted by the Bahrain Defense Force on July 1, bringing together military leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen.
Participants discussed the regional security environment and opportunities to strengthen defense cooperation while underscoring their shared commitment to maintaining the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said the dialogue marked the first time military leaders from Syria and Lebanon participated in a U.S.-led regional defense conference.
🎯 IDF ELIMINATES HAMAS PLATOON COMMANDER IN GAZA: The IDF and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced that they eliminated Hamas terrorist Adel Jihad Mohammad Asfour in an airstrike in southern Gaza.
According to the IDF, Asfour served as a platoon commander in Hamas' military wing, carried out sniper and explosive attacks against Israeli forces throughout the war, recently attempted to rebuild Hamas' operational capabilities, and was advancing imminent terrorist attacks against IDF troops before being eliminated. The IDF said he posed an immediate threat to forces operating in the Gaza Strip.
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