Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Barak held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the request from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to curb Israeli attacks on Lebanon, as well as negotiations with Syria. The channel added that Barak also met with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who had recently met with the Syrian Foreign Minister, As’ad Al-Shaybani. Barak also met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz as part of his official visit.
According to the channel, American officials revealed that the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza imposes a clear interest for Israel in calming the situation on its borders with Lebanon and Syria and reaching new understandings with both countries.
Earlier, Lebanese Information Minister Paul Marqous announced the Cabinet’s approval of the objectives outlined in the paper submitted by U.S. envoy Thomas Barak, confirming the approval to end armed presence throughout Lebanese territories, including Hezbollah, and deploying the Lebanese army in border areas.
A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect on November 27, 2024, more than a year after Hezbollah opened what it called a ‘support front for the Gaza Strip’ on October 8, 2023. The Israeli army was supposed to complete its withdrawal from areas it occupied in southern Lebanon by dawn on January 26, but Israel did not adhere to the deadline, maintaining its military presence in five strategic points in southern Lebanon, citing the need to ‘ensure protection for northern settlements.’ Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally launches strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are to remove ‘Hezbollah threats.’
