Israel conditions Lebanon withdrawal on Hezbollah disarmament as drone strike kills three

Deadly drone strike

An Israeli drone struck a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Thursday, killing three people and wounding one, according to Lebanon's state news agency ANI. The attack brings the death toll from Israeli strikes since Tuesday to seven. Hezbollah called it a "direct attack against civilians" and a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire it has so far observed. Israel's military said it had identified five fighters in two areas who posed a threat and eliminated them with air and ground forces.

“This is a direct attack against civilians and a flagrant violation of the ceasefire.”

Israel's withdrawal condition

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the military would not leave the roughly 10-kilometer security zone it occupies in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed and demilitarized. "We will not withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, is not disarmed and demilitarized," Mencer told reporters. Israel launched large-scale strikes and deployed troops in early March after Hezbollah fired rockets in support of Iran, which was under an Israeli-American offensive.

“We will not withdraw our forces from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat, is not disarmed and demilitarized.”

Washington negotiations

Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, the first in decades, resumed in April under US mediation. The fifth session began this week and was set to conclude Thursday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism, saying, "I think we are very close to getting a commitment of intent from both countries." The talks are seen as a potential path to easing tensions despite the ongoing violence.

“I think we are very close to getting a commitment of intent from both countries.”

Civilian arrests

Separately, the fate of Lebanese civilians arrested by Israel hangs on the negotiations. Mohammed Hassan al-Hajj, a municipal council member from Kfarchouba, was detained on June 10 while trying to restore water supply to his village. His case and others are being raised in the Washington talks, according to reports.