Israeli forces begin withdrawal from south Lebanon’s Naqura amid fragile cease-fire

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein confirmed Monday that Israeli forces began withdrawing from the southern Lebanese border town of Naqura, marking a significant development in the ongoing cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

“The Israeli military started its withdrawal from Naqura… and back into Israel proper today, south of the Blue Line,” Hochstein told reporters.

He added that the withdrawal would continue until all Israeli forces are completely out of Lebanon, with the Lebanese army deploying throughout the south and along the Blue Line, the U.N.-demarcated boundary between the two nations.

‘Political consensus’ before president vote

Meanwhile, Hochstein urged Lebanon’s politicians, after a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, to come together ahead of a vote for a new president following two years of deadlock.

“These are critical times for Lebanon… not just to implement this agreement, but to come to political consensus, to focus on Lebanon for Lebanese people,” he said ahead of the vote on Thursday.