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Talks between Israel and Lebanon underway in Washington include discussion of a US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to hand over some of the territory they have invaded during the war with Hezbollah to the Lebanese military, according to Israeli and Lebanese officials. The Israeli officials said the Lebanese troops involved would undergo US training and vetting to ensure they are not linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah, while Israel would maintain a military presence in a buffer zone along the border.

The proposed "pilot" project is being discussed in the latest round of talks, which began in Washington on June 23 and are scheduled to run through June 25. Asked about the Israeli officials' comments, a senior Lebanese security official said discussions were ongoing and that Wednesday would see specific military-to-military discussions, including on the pilot zones. The Lebanese official said the talks would focus on a timeline for withdrawal and that any plan would emerge only after the final day of talks on Thursday.

Coverage Comparison

The three outlets covering the talks converge on the core fact that a US-backed plan is on the table for the Lebanese army to take over territory currently held by Israeli forces, with US training and vetting of Lebanese troops and an Israeli presence in a border buffer zone. They differ in emphasis: Deutsche Welle frames the story around the humanitarian and political pressures on Lebanon, including the displacement of over a million people, thousands of deaths, and roughly $1.4 billion in damage. France 24 — English focuses on the mechanics of the proposal and the ongoing ceasefire, noting that it has largely held since Sunday even as Israeli forces remain deployed deep inside southern Lebanon. The Jerusalem Post highlights the US pressure on Israel to adhere to a "real ceasefire," suggesting past truces were nominal, and puts the talks in the context of Iran's attempt to preserve its Hezbollah proxy.

The outlets also differ in their treatment of the regional backdrop. Deutsche Welle reports that Iran wants fighting in Lebanon to stop and has made respect for Lebanese sovereignty a condition of the memorandum of understanding it signed with the US, which halted the Iran-US-Israel war. Jerusalem Post similarly notes that Iran has tied the conflict in Lebanon to broader talks in Switzerland, and that the US has pressured Israel to uphold its own agreements with Iran on Lebanon.

Key Claims

  • A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since Sunday, according to France 24 — English, though Israeli forces have remained deployed deep inside southern Lebanon, where they have seized a self-declared security zone to protect northern Israel.
  • The conflict has displaced over a million people in Lebanon, killed thousands, and caused about $1.4 billion (€1.2 billion) in damage, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • Iran wants fighting in Lebanon to stop and has made respect for Lebanese sovereignty a condition of its memorandum of understanding with the US, according to Deutsche Welle.
  • The Egyptian proposal outlines a three-phase process of 'organized, gradual transition' for Hezbollah, as described by Deutsche Welle. The same outlet notes that Lebanon has been trying to negotiate directly with Israel and that critics of the talks worry about Lebanon's sovereignty and the risk of a new civil war.
  • The new round of talks began in Washington on June 23, according to Jerusalem Post, which also says the US had pressured Israel to adhere to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, unlike previous truces.
  • Hezbollah rejected the diplomatic track, according to France 24 — English, which also says the talks have been overshadowed as Iran has made Lebanon a focus of its negotiations with the US.
  • The Lebanese Army proved incapable of disarming Hezbollah in 2025, even when Hezbollah was weakened, according to Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Lebanese officials — A senior Lebanese security official said the discussions on the pilot zones would focus on a withdrawal timeline and that any plan would only emerge after Thursday's talks. The official did not respond to questions about US vetting of Lebanese troops.

Israeli officials — Israeli officials described the proposal as one where Lebanese troops would undergo US training and vetting to avoid links to Hezbollah, and that Israel would keep a presence in a buffer zone.

Deutsche Welle's analysis — The outlet highlights the view that Lebanon faces a difficult choice between Iran and Israel, with neither offering lasting peace, and that forcing the Lebanese army to confront Hezbollah could spark a new civil war.