Lebanon renews its categorical rejection of security normalization with Israel

The round of direct military talks between Lebanon and Israel, which lasted about 10 hours under the auspices of the United States, ended at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense (Pentagon  ), focusing on building frameworks for regional security and stability and consolidating the ceasefire.

The Lebanese military delegation called for the immediate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the establishment of a ceasefire, reviewing the army's deployment plan to extend the state's authority and limit weapons to its hands.

Israel refused to withdraw its forces from the south as long as there remained what it considered a "security threat" and called for mechanisms that amounted to "security normalization," which the Lebanese delegation categorically rejected.

The Pentagon described the talks as "productive," stressing that the results of this military tour will be a key tributary to the political track that will resume at the US State Department headquarters on June 2 and 3 to discuss broader diplomatic arrangements.

This round comes in light of the escalation of tension on the ground on Lebanon's southern border, and increasing international pressure to establish a permanent truce, while Washington is betting that the security track will establish a more stable political negotiation phase.

Lebanon rejects security normalization

Lebanese media, including Al-Jadeed and MTV channels, reported that the Lebanese embassy in Washington will hold an assessment and review session on Saturday of the security negotiations.

MTV quoted a US source as saying that "during the negotiations, Israel presented maps and intelligence information on sites it says are linked to Hezbollah, which is at the forefront of the discussions on the issue of attack drones."

In this context, Al-Jadeed TV reported, quoting Lebanese military sources, that "Israel is asking for security normalization, but this is rejected by Lebanon because any decision of this kind is a political decision, not a military one."

The Lebanese delegation included 6 officers, headed by the Director of Operations in the Army, Brigadier General George Rizkallah, while the head of the Strategic Department in the Planning Directorate, Amichai Levin, participated from the Israeli side.

Rubio calls Lebanese president

Ahead of the start of the negotiations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated his country's commitment to consolidating the outcomes of the Lebanese-Israeli talks hosted by Washington, stressing the United States' support for Lebanon's sovereignty over its entire territory, during a phone call he held on Friday, May 29, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

According to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency, the call dealt with "reviewing the general situation in Lebanon, the region and current developments" in light of the continuation of Israeli attacks despite the declaration of a ceasefire.

Aoun stressed "the need to exert all possible efforts to reach a ceasefire as the main entrance to any subsequent step, and the necessary corridor to create the appropriate conditions to address the various files."

For his part, Rubio reiterated "the commitment of the US administration to continue its efforts to consolidate the outcomes of previous meetings in Washington, and to support Lebanon's stability, independence, sovereignty over its entire territory, and its natural right to self-determination."