October 8, 2026
An Israeli military source reported that any withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, or the return of residents to the affected areas, will not take place for years, linking this to the continued presence of Hezbollah infrastructure in the region.
In exclusive statements to “Sky News Arabia,” the source explained that the process of dismantling and searching for Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the south “needs years before it is completed,” claiming that these structures are spreading “everywhere south of the Yellow Line,” which reflects an Israeli vision for a long period of military deployment and security pressure.
In a related context, the source directed sharp criticism at the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), considering that its presence “harms Israel more than it benefits it,” and that Tel Aviv “prefers its absence.” He also criticized the Lebanese army, claiming that it is “infiltrated and does not perform its function properly,” and stressing that it “needs to be restructured.”
These positions come at a time when southern Lebanon remains a focus of security and political tension, amid ongoing discussions regarding the future of military deployment, the role of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL forces, and mechanisms for stabilizing stability on the border.
These statements indicate that Tel Aviv views the next stage as a long-term path that goes beyond immediate field arrangements to include the files of military deployment, the security structure, and the role of local and international forces in southern Lebanon.
