Senior White House officials clarified that any potential redeployment of Israel Defense Forces from Lebanese territory remains strictly contingent upon the full disarmament of Hezbollah terrorists and the complete restoration of Lebanese government sovereignty across its territory.
The statement came ahead of a scheduled White House meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. American officials stated that the diplomatic framework aims to achieve three core objectives, restoring Lebanese sovereignty, dismantling Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure, and enabling Israel to return to secure borders once immediate security threats are removed.
A initial redeployment pilot commenced in the Zutar al-Gharbiya region as a direct result of recent diplomatic discussions held in Rome. White House sources noted that Washington will continue working with both parties until full implementation of the framework is completed.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan, President Trump addressed the upcoming summit and noted that while minor policy differences exist, overall strategic alignment remains strong. "We are pretty close, there is a small difference between us, but we are pretty close," Trump stated regarding the American and Israeli positions on Iran.
Commenting on recent military operations, Trump emphasized the severity of strikes against Iranian capabilities and addressed prospective diplomatic talks with Tehran. "There is a chance we can reach an agreement, if we do, great, if not, we will go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," Trump told reporters.
The American president also reaffirmed his administration's position regarding defense sales to regional partners, particularly addressing discussions surrounding potential F35 aircraft transfers to Turkey. "Nobody is going to tell me what we should sell or not sell," Trump declared, while noting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's role in Syria.
Trump additionally emphasized the critical nature of previous military interventions, asserting that American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were crucial for regional defense. The closed door meeting in Washington is set to cover ongoing operations against Hamas terrorists, strategies regarding Iran, and broader regional stability frameworks.
According to statements provided by White House officials to Reuters, the bilateral meeting will be followed by both leaders attending the funeral service for late Senator Lindsey Graham.
