Trump: Israel Will Withdraw Troops from Lebanon

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Israel would withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, despite recent comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting otherwise.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said he had discussed the withdrawal with Netanyahu.

“Yes, I think they're going to. I think they want to. So we have a deal with Israel and Lebanon. Yes, they'll leave. And I think it's going to work out very well”, he said.

Netanyahu visited Israeli-held territory in southern Lebanon last week and told troops that Israel would not withdraw as long as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah continued to pose a threat.

On 26 June, Israel and Lebanon reached a US-brokered security agreement under which Israel is to hand over two areas to the Lebanese army.

(Reuters, Max)