Report: Lebanon demands two-stage Israeli withdrawal

Lebanon is waiting for a commitment from Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon over two phases, a Lebanese source concerned with the negotiations with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said.

The first phase “should begin immediately, after Lebanon carried out all its obligations during this period through the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani and Hezbollah’s pullback from the area,” the source told al-Binaa newspaper, commenting on reports that Barrack has demanded a timetable for finalizing the file of arms.

The second phase would be “withdrawal to beyond Lebanon’s international border, in addition to halting attacks and the violation of Lebanon’s airspace and waters,” the source added.