Iran war live: Lebanon says no deal without Israeli withdrawal

As of 23 April 2026, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stated that the country will not sign any agreement with Israel that does not include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.

The current situation is as follows:

• Deadlocked Negotiations: Ahead of a second round of rare direct talks in Washington, Lebanon is demanding an end to the Israeli military presence in the south. Prime Minister Salam has explicitly rejected the creation of a permanent "buffer zone," stating that displaced Lebanese citizens must be allowed to return to their homes and rebuild destroyed villages.
• Ceasefire Under Strain: A fragile 10-day ceasefire, brokered by the U.S. and implemented on 16 April, is set to expire by the end of this week. Lebanon is pushing for a one-month extension of this truce to facilitate further diplomacy.
• Ongoing Hostilities: Despite the truce, violence has continued. On 22 April, Israeli strikes reportedly killed five people in southern Lebanon, including Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. Hezbollah also reported carrying out operations in response to what it called Israeli violations.
• Territorial Control: Israel currently occupies a belt of southern Lebanon extending 5 to 10 kilometres (3 to 6 miles) into the country, which it claims is necessary to prevent rocket attacks on northern Israel. 

International mediators, including the U.S., continue to facilitate direct negotiations between the two countries, which are the first of their kind in over 40 years. However, both sides remain far apart on key issues such as Hezbollah's disarmament and the specific terms of a complete Israeli withdrawal.