US says Israel to withdraw in 15 days, retains strategic hills

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein announced during the most recent ceasefire monitoring committee meeting that Israel would withdraw from south Lebanon’s western, central, and eastern sectors within 15 days. The committee’s co-chair, U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, also approved an Israeli plan to maintain control over three strategic hills within Lebanese territory.

Sources familiar with the plan revealed that the withdrawal would occur in three phases. During the first five days, Israeli forces would pull out from the western sector, spanning from Ras al-Naqoura to Rmeish. The next five days would see a withdrawal from the central sector, covering Rmeish to Mays al-Jabal. Finally, the eastern sector, from Mays al-Jabal to Shebaa, would be vacated in the last five days.

Despite the withdrawal, Israel intends to establish military bases on three key hills within Lebanon, according to the report. These hills include the al-Labbouneh forest near Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab, the Blat mountain situated between Marwahin, Ramyeh, Beit Leef, and Qawzah, and the al-Hamamis hill between the plains of Khiam and al-Wazzani.

The strategic locations of these hills allow Israel to monitor vast areas south of the Litani River. They overlook the Israeli settlements of Western Galilee, Zar’it, Shtula, and Metula. The uninhabited nature of these hills, which lack any structures, provides Israel with the ability to maneuver quickly into Lebanese territory if necessary, the sources added.