Despite the pressure surrounding negotiations with Iran, Israel and the US have reached understandings under which there will be no withdrawal from southern Lebanon for now. The IDF will continue to act against threats and terrorist infrastructure under closer coordination with Washington. At the same time, intelligence passed to the Americans indicates that the directives to escalate Hezbollah activity are coming directly from Tehran.

Shortly beforehand, Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear that Israel had no intention of withdrawing from Beaufort or the security zone in Lebanon. Katz: "It is vital for defending the communities of the Galilee and IDF troops."

Fifty Iranian drones were found in a massive tunnel in the Shiite village of Majdal Zoun, considered one of the terrorist organization’s most important and secret strongholds. For days, troops from the Yahalom combat engineering unit worked to locate it, eventually finding it near homes, a school and a mosque. The tunnel, which was blocked in an Israeli Air Force strike in 2024, is believed to have been part of Hezbollah’s drone network.

The American and Iranian delegations met in Switzerland for direct talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. Lebanon is expected to be at the center of the discussions, alongside the nuclear issue and sanctions. Vance: "Great progress has been made."

After completing the operation on the Ali Taher ridge and destroying the underground infrastructure, the IDF may recommend to Israel's political leadership to reposition forces along better defensive lines on the yellow line. Israel is making clear that it has no intention of withdrawing from southern Lebanon at this stage, except as part of the talks in Washington and subject to three minimum conditions.