Israeli official says withdrawal after Lebanon takes 'actual steps'

An unnamed Israeli official on Monday responded to remarks by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who is visiting Lebanon, by saying that “there is no intention to keep occupying Lebanese territory.”

“We’ll do what’s needed when Lebanon’s leadership takes actual steps,” the official added, according to Al-Arabiya television.

“We will discuss withdrawal from the five points in Lebanon with the (ceasefire) monitoring committee,” the Israeli official said.

Barrack on Monday called on Israel to honour commitments under a ceasefire that ended its war with Hezbollah, after the Lebanese government launched a process to disarm the militant group.

"There's always a step-by-step approach but I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply," Barrack said following a meeting in Beirut with President Joseph Aoun.