📍 ISRAEL AND LEBANON PREPARE FOR NEXT ROUND OF TALKS AS TRUMP CALLS FOR A "SOFTER TOUCH" AGAINST HEZBOLLAH
🔸 LEBANON: NEXT TALKS SEEN AS CRITICAL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE: According to Saudi Al-Hadath, citing Lebanese officials, the next round of direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations is viewed in Beirut as "extremely important for establishing a permanent ceasefire."
The talks are expected to focus on Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and establishing a timetable for proposed pilot zones.
The officials also stated that the reported U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding includes a ceasefire-related provision and could increase pressure on Israel to carry out a gradual withdrawal.
Lebanese officials further said Beirut has no intention of backing down from its decision to confine weapons to the state and continue deploying the Lebanese Army throughout southern Lebanon.
📍 ISRAEL MAINTAINS SECURITY ZONE AS WITHDRAWAL REMAINS UNDER DISCUSSION: A senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Netanyahu told Reuters that Israel is conducting "stubborn negotiations" with the United States regarding the continued deployment of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The IDF says it remains deployed in a Security Zone extending approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory due to operational requirements. According to the military, forces will continue operating there to remove threats and strengthen protection for Israel's northern communities.
Any potential withdrawal remains under discussion as part of the direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, with negotiating teams expected to reconvene next week.
At this stage, the IDF says it will continue holding the territory "in accordance with operational needs" to eliminate threats to Israeli forces and northern border communities.
The military also called on the Lebanese Army to coordinate its activities with the IDF and avoid approaching the Security Zone while operations continue.
⚠️ PRESIDENT TRUMP URGES A "SOFTER TOUCH" IN LEBANON: President Trump said he has encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to take a more restrained approach toward Hezbollah-related targets in Lebanon.
"In all fairness to Bibi Netanyahu, who happens to be a good man, he gets a little excited sometimes," Trump said.
"I said, you can do a little softer touch, Bibi. You don't have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it."
While praising Netanyahu and emphasizing the strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship, Trump revealed that the two leaders have disagreed at times over how aggressively Israel should respond to Hezbollah threats in Lebanon, while maintaining that the alliance remains strong.
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